Grounding - Revision history

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2026-06-04T17:16:59Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 17:16, 4 June 2026
(No difference)

Energy>Jmdonev at 21:50, 22 May 2026

2026-05-22T21:50:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:50, 22 May 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Category:Done ~~2018~~-05-18]]		[[Category:Done 2026-06-01]]
	[[File:Grounding.gif\|thumb\|450px\|right\|Figure 1. A conceptual illustration of the ground acting as a return path.<ref>EECS, UC Berkeley. (July 30, 2015). ''Lab Logistics'' [Online], Available: http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~ee100/su04/lab/lab1/new_intro_lab_guide_report.pdf</ref>]]		[[File:Grounding.gif\|thumb\|450px\|right\|Figure 1. A conceptual illustration of the ground acting as a return path.<ref>EECS, UC Berkeley. (July 30, 2015). ''Lab Logistics'' [Online], Available: http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~ee100/su04/lab/lab1/new_intro_lab_guide_report.pdf</ref>]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Electrical grounding''', otherwise known as earthing, primarily provides a measure of safety against [[shock hazard\|electric shocks]] by acting as a safety line to redirect [[electric current]] in the event of [[short circuit]]s.</onlyinclude> For household appliances, this is accomplished by a three-pronged [[electrical outlet]] with a dedicated grounding prong.<ref>Hyperphysics. (July 30, 2015). ''Breakers and Ground Wires'' [Online]. Available: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/bregnd.html</ref>		<onlyinclude>'''Electrical grounding''', otherwise known as earthing, primarily provides a measure of safety against [[shock hazard\|electric shocks]] by acting as a safety line to redirect [[electric current]] in the event of [[short circuit]]s.</onlyinclude> For household appliances, this is accomplished by a three-pronged [[electrical outlet]] with a dedicated grounding prong.<ref>Hyperphysics. (July 30, 2015). ''Breakers and Ground Wires'' [Online]. Available: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/bregnd.html</ref>
Line 13:		Line 13:

	In the presence of water, an [[electrical outlet]] can be dangerous as the water often provides a direct ground connection for the current passing through the outlet, posing a serious shock hazard. [[Ground fault circuit interrupter]]s are used as a safety measure to protect against this possibility.		In the presence of water, an [[electrical outlet]] can be dangerous as the water often provides a direct ground connection for the current passing through the outlet, posing a serious shock hazard. [[Ground fault circuit interrupter]]s are used as a safety measure to protect against this possibility.

			== For Further Reading ==
			For further information please see the related pages below:
			*[[Electrical transmission]]
			*[[Electrical grid]]
			*[[Electrical outlet]]
			*[[Distribution grid]]
			* Or explore a [[Special:Random\| random page!]]

	==References==		==References==
	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}
	[[Category:Uploaded]]		[[Category:Uploaded]]

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2018-05-18T22:53:10Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 22:53, 18 May 2018
(No difference)

Jmdonev at 21:56, 11 May 2018

2018-05-11T21:56:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:56, 11 May 2018
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Category:Done ~~2015~~-07-24]]		[[Category:Done 2018-05-18]]
	[[File:Grounding.gif\|thumb\|450px\|right\|Figure 1. A conceptual illustration of the ground acting as a return path.<ref>EECS, UC Berkeley. (July 30, 2015). ''Lab Logistics'' [Online], Available: http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~ee100/su04/lab/lab1/new_intro_lab_guide_report.pdf</ref>]]		[[File:Grounding.gif\|thumb\|450px\|right\|Figure 1. A conceptual illustration of the ground acting as a return path.<ref>EECS, UC Berkeley. (July 30, 2015). ''Lab Logistics'' [Online], Available: http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~ee100/su04/lab/lab1/new_intro_lab_guide_report.pdf</ref>]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Electrical grounding''', otherwise known as earthing, primarily provides a measure of safety against [[shock hazard\|electric shocks]] by acting as a safety line to redirect ~~electric~~ [[current]] in the event of [[short circuit]]s.</onlyinclude> For household appliances, this is accomplished by ~~the use~~ a three-pronged [[electrical outlet]] with a dedicated grounding prong.<ref>Hyperphysics. (July 30, 2015). ''Breakers and Ground Wires'' [Online]. Available: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/bregnd.html</ref>		<onlyinclude>'''Electrical grounding''', otherwise known as earthing, primarily provides a measure of safety against [[shock hazard\|electric shocks]] by acting as a safety line to redirect [[electric current]] in the event of [[short circuit]]s.</onlyinclude> For household appliances, this is accomplished by a three-pronged [[electrical outlet]] with a dedicated grounding prong.<ref>Hyperphysics. (July 30, 2015). ''Breakers and Ground Wires'' [Online]. Available: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/bregnd.html</ref>

	Grounding is also a way of providing a current [[circuit\|return path]] in some [[electrical transmission]] systems. Since the earth is an electrically neutral body, it is said that the ground, or earth, is at zero electric potential, and all other voltages are determined relative to this ground potential. This allows the ground to function as an extended [[neutral line]] in that it completes the transmission [[circuit]] by acting as a source of [[electron]]s for the [[electric generator]] and as an endpoint for electrons after the [[electrical load]]. This means that instead of a wire that provides a current return path from the load back to the [[voltage]] source as seen in most simple circuits, the ground acts as that return path.<ref>G. Hunka. (July 30, 2015). ''Circuit Grounds and Grounding Practices'' [Online]. Available: http://www.ese.upenn.edu/detkin/instruments/misctutorials/Ground/grd.html</ref>		Grounding is also a way of providing a current [[electric circuit\|return path]] in some [[electrical transmission]] systems. Since the earth is an electrically neutral body, it is said that the ground, or earth, is at zero electric potential, and all other voltages are determined relative to this ground potential. This allows the ground to function as an extended [[neutral line]] in that it completes the transmission [[electric circuit]] by acting as a source of [[electron]]s for the [[electric generator]] and as an endpoint for electrons after the [[electrical load]]. This means that instead of a wire that provides a current return path from the load back to the [[voltage]] source as seen in most simple circuits, the ground acts as that return path.<ref>G. Hunka. (July 30, 2015). ''Circuit Grounds and Grounding Practices'' [Online]. Available: http://www.ese.upenn.edu/detkin/instruments/misctutorials/Ground/grd.html</ref>

	However, this use of grounding is only employed in a [[Single Wire Earth Return transmission system]], which is mainly used in some rural areas in countries like Canada and Australia.<ref>P. Armstrong. (July 30, 2015). ''Single Wire Earth Return (SWER)'' [Online]. Available: http://www.stonepower.se/Images/SWER.pdf</ref> Most modern transmission systems use [[three-phase electric power]], which does not use grounding as a return path.		However, this use of grounding is only employed in a [[Single Wire Earth Return transmission system]], which is mainly used in some rural areas in countries like Canada and Australia.<ref>P. Armstrong. (July 30, 2015). ''Single Wire Earth Return (SWER)'' [Online]. Available: http://www.stonepower.se/Images/SWER.pdf</ref> Most modern transmission systems use [[three-phase electric power]], which does not use grounding as a return path.

J.williams: 1 revision imported

2015-08-26T21:30:48Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 21:30, 26 August 2015
(No difference)

J.williams at 16:42, 12 August 2015

2015-08-12T16:42:58Z

New page

[[Category:Done 2015-07-24]]
[[File:Grounding.gif|thumb|450px|right|Figure 1. A conceptual illustration of the ground acting as a return path.<ref>EECS, UC Berkeley. (July 30, 2015). ''Lab Logistics'' [Online], Available: http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~ee100/su04/lab/lab1/new_intro_lab_guide_report.pdf</ref>]]
<onlyinclude>'''Electrical grounding''', otherwise known as earthing, primarily provides a measure of safety against [[shock hazard|electric shocks]] by acting as a safety line to redirect electric [[current]] in the event of [[short circuit]]s.</onlyinclude> For household appliances, this is accomplished by the use a three-pronged [[electrical outlet]] with a dedicated grounding prong.<ref>Hyperphysics. (July 30, 2015). ''Breakers and Ground Wires'' [Online]. Available: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/bregnd.html</ref>

Grounding is also a way of providing a current [[circuit|return path]] in some [[electrical transmission]] systems. Since the earth is an electrically neutral body, it is said that the ground, or earth, is at zero electric potential, and all other voltages are determined relative to this ground potential. This allows the ground to function as an extended [[neutral line]] in that it completes the transmission [[circuit]] by acting as a source of [[electron]]s for the [[electric generator]] and as an endpoint for electrons after the [[electrical load]]. This means that instead of a wire that provides a current return path from the load back to the [[voltage]] source as seen in most simple circuits, the ground acts as that return path.<ref>G. Hunka. (July 30, 2015). ''Circuit Grounds and Grounding Practices'' [Online]. Available: http://www.ese.upenn.edu/detkin/instruments/misctutorials/Ground/grd.html</ref>

However, this use of grounding is only employed in a [[Single Wire Earth Return transmission system]], which is mainly used in some rural areas in countries like Canada and Australia.<ref>P. Armstrong. (July 30, 2015). ''Single Wire Earth Return (SWER)'' [Online]. Available: http://www.stonepower.se/Images/SWER.pdf</ref> Most modern transmission systems use [[three-phase electric power]], which does not use grounding as a return path.

A major issue with using the ground as an electrical conductor is that it has a high electrical [[resistance]], making it very inefficient as a means of transmitting power. However, this issue is partially addressed by inserting the ground rods (located at the generator and after the load) fairly deep into the ground. Since the resistance of a conductor is inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area, making the rods deeper reduces the total resistance by increasing the area through which the current travels between the rods. For more information about the factors that determine resistance, see [[resistance]].

== In Residential Systems==
A continuous low [[resistance]] grounding path in residential electrical systems ensures that voltage levels in the wiring are stable and makes overload protection devices ([[Electrical safety devices#Circuit breaker|circuit breakers]], [[Electrical safety devices|fuses]]) as effective as possible. In a typical grounding [[circuit]] the [[neutral line]] connects to a neutral bar (in the service panel) which connects to a ground clamp on the water or gas pipes. These pipes go underground and establish a direct ground connection. Alternatively, the neutral bar can connect to an underground grounding rod located outside of the residence to establish a direct ground connection. There must be no breaks in the ground line, so parallel connections must be made with anything that can break the ground path, such as a water meter.<ref name=A>R.T. Paynter, “Basic Electric Components and Meters,” in ''Introduction to Electricity'', 1rst ed. NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2011, ch. 8, sec. 8.1, pp. 331-340.</ref><br />

In the presence of water, an [[electrical outlet]] can be dangerous as the water often provides a direct ground connection for the current passing through the outlet, posing a serious shock hazard. [[Ground fault circuit interrupter]]s are used as a safety measure to protect against this possibility.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Uploaded]]