Which Earth should a chassis be connected to: supply, or local?

Question

I have a doubt regarding the earthing of an appliance and its separate isolation transformer. Consider the following simplified schematics; this is my first guess at which earth each chassis should be connected to: connect the appliance chassis to the local earth, not the supply earth. Is it correct? What is and why? I'm sure it has mostly to do with the tripping of the residual current device when a fault current occurs to enclosures, but I haven't been able to get to the bottom of it.

This is also a general question, as I need to make sure the isolation transformer can be removed (appliance directly connected to the supply) without rewiring anything: there are therefore 2 cases of which one (n°2) is totally generic.

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}

^{simulate this circuit}

Context: France and Belgium.

Answer 1

IMO, both your cases are incorrect.

• the connection between a provider distribution grid as the supplier and a house (home/building) as the consumer typically looks like that (remember, at least one full, i.e. L+N, breaker should be installed after the feeder enters into the house and before the in-house wiring/distribution):

  

• by this, earthing the in-house apparatus should be like that (remember, you need to use a multi-pole [L+N] breaker before each critical apparatus, e.g. xformer or welder, instead of a simple one-pole [L] breaker if you cannon ensure the direct wiring, i.e. L to L, n to N, not L to N, will take place all the cases and times):

  

• and last, if you decide to place an insulating xformer (by some your reasons which are not clear from the question) that could be if the distance between the feeder input and the place is too long to the PE wire to act as a protection correct, its case (if any) should be earthed (grounded) locally as well as the new PE wire going to the apparatus in the new insulated domain (remember, the L+N breaker mean also rules here):

  

Therefore, my advice for you is the next:

• provide you apparatus with an electric plug wiring out L, N, and PE (connected to the case, if any and conductive) circuits;

• provide you xformer with an electric socket compatible with the plug on the apparatus, with its PE connected to the locally grounded circuit---at the secondary side (winding), and with an electric plug or terminals wiring L and N, but not PE, compatible with the socket or wires on the in-house power wiring---at the primary side (winding).

Good luck.

P.S. Above is related to TN-C based distribution grids typical for most Europe, imo.

Answer 2

The isolation transformer has one of its output terminals earthed on your schematic This means that the power isn't really isolated at all BUT your earth leak breaker will work IF you keep the isolation transformer isolated by not grounding any of its output terminals AND want earth leak operation then you can ground the centre tap via a resistor If a center tap connection isn't conveniently available then two equal value resisters will achieve the desired result at the expense of more power draw The resisters should allow at least 30mA to flow if either line is faulted to ground so normal earth leakage breaker operation will occur