Earthing or Grounding is the process of connecting the electrical metallic parts of any electrical appliance, capable of conducting electricity effectively, to the ground or earth. To put it in simpler words, the metallic parts of any electronic types of machinery when installed with the grounding plate of the earth with the help of a thick conducting wire is called Grounding.
• Earthing v/s Grounding v/s Bonding
The word Grounding is used in Americanized standards while Earthing is the European name of the process. In the United States, CRT Earthing Copper Wire comprises of IEEE, NEC, UL, and ANSI while in European countries, Grounding comprises of the terms IEC and IS.
Bonding is the process in which two wires of two electrical appliances join to bring down and maintain a common level of electrical potential.
• Importance of Earthing
Earthing has the following advantages:
* Establishes a proper connection between the Earth and the electrical appliances to protect the humans and animals from electrical leakage.
* Maintains an effective and continuous flow of electricity and consistent voltage even in the occurrence of a fault on any phase* Saves the electrical appliances when the lightning strikes
* Serves as a return conductor in sectors of communication and traction systems
* Rules out or decreases the chances of occurrence of fire in the electrical systems
• Types of Earthing and Installation process
There are three types of earthing processes, viz. Plate Earthing, Pipe Earthing and Rod earthing. How these earthing processes take place can be explained in detail below:
Plate Earthing
This system of earthing comprises of a plate of copper or galvanized iron which gets buried in the ground within its moisture.
Rod Earthing
Similar to pipe earthing, this process comprises a copper rod or a galvanized steel rod. These rods get installed or buried in the wet soil with the aid of a pneumatic hammer.
Pipe Earthing
This process comprises of the perforated steel pipe of a given length. This is placed in a vertical position inside the wet soil.
