Why Is the MEN System So Important It makes the circuit safe. When active current passes current to earth, the MEN system uses the distribution of neutral conductor for carrying the resulting fault currents. It helps to reduce neutral to earth voltage - which rises because of an increase in the neutral current - especially for the long low voltage runs. This allows the protective device to open circuit and thus it is made safe. The MEN system is designed such that it ensures that when a fault occurs in a way that the active conductor contacted the exposed metal, then the fault current takes the earth conductor as a return path on its way to switchboard. A timber batten acts as ‘touch potentials’ and provides mechanical protection to the pole. In the MEN system, a low-voltage distribution transformer is connected to the soil at both the transformer and base of fourth transmission fault. Since 1980, the voltage-operated ELCB protection and the direct earthing system have been discontinued here and the MEN system has been used exclusively because of a few reasons: A correctly earthed system lets one isolate any defective electrical equipment by the means of protective devices. Before 1980, there were three accepted wiring systems in Australia.Įarth’s mass cancels the effect of leaking current in an installation by earthing out.