We provide grounding in electrical systems for your safety. It prevents metal parts of electrical devices from becoming electrically charged due to possible insulation failures. If this occurs, the metal surface could carry enough voltage to give a dangerous shock to anyone touching it. To avoid this, any metal part in a device is connected to the earth through a grounding electrode or a building’s grounding system. In simple terms, grounding means connecting a metal surface to the earth to ensure safety and prevent electric shocks.
Grounding a conductive surface ensures that if it somehow gets charged, the electricity will flow into the earth, causing a short-circuit. The goal is for this short-circuit to trip the circuit breaker swiftly, cutting off the electric supply. With the breaker tripped, there is no risk of a dangerous shock. To resume power supply, the short-circuit issue must be resolved before resetting the circuit breaker.
In homes or buildings, metal cabinets of main circuit panels, breakers, lamps, transformers, and distribution panels are usually grounded through cables. Electrical appliances, when plugged into a 3-prong outlet, receive grounding. These outlets have three parts: a ‘live’ or ‘hot’ port, a neutral port, and a ground port. The ground port needs to be properly connected to the ground electrode or building grounding system.
Appliances with metal cases, like washers or dryers, have a 3-prong plug with ‘live,’ neutral, and ground prongs. Inside the appliance cord, a grounding cable links the metal case to the ground prong. Plugging the appliance into the outlet connects the prongs, grounding the metal case. This setup safeguards against electric shock if the metal case becomes charged. Grounding ensures safety in electrical systems by directing potential hazards away from people.
Bonding, like grounding, is used to prevent accidental electric shocks, especially when multiple devices with conductive surfaces are close. These surfaces are grounded by connecting cables to each device, a process known as bonding. Both grounding and bonding are crucial for protecting against electric shocks, so it’s essential to ensure that electrical equipment with conductive cabinets is correctly grounded. Never remove the ground prong from an appliance plug to fit it into a 2-prong outlet. Instead, replace the outlet with a 3-prong one and make sure its grounding port is properly connected. This ensures your appliance is grounded during use, offering protection against electric shocks. Always prioritize proper grounding and bonding for electrical safety.
