Why is grounding electricity important

The grounding wire does not carry electricity under normal circuit operations. It's purpose is to carry electrical current only under short circuit or other conditions that would be potentially dangerous.

Grounding wires serve as an alternate path for the current to flow back to the source, rather than go through anyone touching a dangerous appliance or electrical box. Confusion arises because it is commonly referred to as a ground wire even though it is more correctly called a "grounding" wire.

Some people will refer to this wire as the "case ground" since this wire is typically connected to the cases or outer parts of electrical boxes and appliances and tools. The grounding wire is required by the National Electrical Code to be a bare wire, or if insulated, a green or green with yellow colored insulation.

English Spanish. Grounding helps protect you and your home from the dangers of damaged circuits or electrical overloads.

When power surges happen, the excess electricity introduced to the system could leap out of the wiring. Without electrical grounding, this stray voltage could start a fire, damage appliances, or shock bystanders. Grounding prevents voltage from arcing to other conductive materials such as water and metal, where it could hurt you. Grounding wires also prevent voltage from overloading and damaging your appliances, which will help them last longer and function better.

Overall, grounding is one of the most important safety measures protecting contemporary home electrical systems. It can be difficult to know if your home is properly grounded without a circuit tester or professional inspection.

There are a couple of things to look for that will give you an idea, however. First of all: do your outlets have two prongs or three? The lower, third prong of an outlet connects to the ground wire. Even if each of your outlets has three prongs, you may still not have effective grounding. Sometimes, homes that were once grounded now have ineffective grounding because of damage or wiring mistakes.

Homes built in the 50s and 60s often have no grounding or ineffective grounding, even if they have three-prong outlets. Imagine that an electrical issue occurs, like a lightning strike or a power surge, where no grounding exists.

The metal components then act as a conductive surface, becoming electrically energized. When a person accidentally touches these components, their body provides the current with a path to the earth, shocking them in the process.

The Benefits of Proper Grounding Though grounding gets little attention, it is one of the most significant facets of building safety and equipment maintenance today. Trust only a certified electrician to perform grounding for your facility. If you have questions about grounding see if this service is offered in your area.