Difference Between Earthing and Grounding, Definition

Hello guys, welcome back to our blog. In this article, we will discuss the difference between earthing and grounding, applications of both, what is an earthing, what is a grounding, and why both are used.

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Difference Between Earthing and Grounding

Electrical earthing and grounding are one of the most important aspects of any electrical installation. The earthing and grounding systems came into existence in the early days because, at the time of the early days, the electrical systems are like undergrounded, and that leads to frequent dangerous occurrences induced due to electric shocks. The function of earth and grounding connections serves the purpose is providing protection against electric shocks.

Earthing

Earthing is the process of transferring the immediate discharge of electricity directly to the earth plate with the help of low resistance electrical cable. The electrical earthing is performed by connecting the non- current-carrying portion of the device or neutral of the supply system to the ground. Based on researches that clearly show that the existence truth about the earthing is that connecting earth in the electrical system then it physically maintain a good condition of the electrical system.

Grounding

Grounding is also used to protect the equipment but the grounding wire is connected in between the supply and load. The ground wire does carry a current while the circuit working under normal conditions. Whereas in Grounding the circuit is not physically connected to the ground but its potential is zero with respect to other points.

All the people staying or functioning in the residential, marketable, and industrial enterprises, particularly the operators and people who are in close operation & contact with electrical systems and machinery, should essentially be protected against possible electrification. To achieve this, the earthing system is designed & installed according to standard requirements.

Is Earthing and Grounding is same?

Basically, a lot of people thought that earthing and grounding are the same. But I think they are mistaken because there is a key difference that exists between these two. Before saying earthing and grounding is the same we need to think that, If in case these two are the same then why we are taking two words for the same thing? So, let’s see the difference then we understand the existence truth.

Differences between earthing and grounding

Earthing	Grounding
Under normal conditions, the earth wire doesn’t carry a current. i.e, earthing means connecting dead part to the earth wire.	Under normal conditions, the ground wire does carry a current. i.e, grounding means connecting the live part to the ground wire.
The earthing is used to protect human beings and animals from electric shocks.	The ground wire is used to protect the whole system from electric shocks.
Generally, the green wire is used to indicate the earth wire.	Generally, the black wire is used to indicate the ground wire.
Earthing giving a path to a large surface of zero volt potential.	Grounding giving a return path to the current in the case of fault situations.
Earthing is to provide the safety of electrical equipment by discharging electrical energy to the earth.	Grounding provides a protected return path around the electrical systems like houses, whole systems thus minimize the damage from the occurrence of fault currents.
Earthing is located under the earth pit between the equipment and the underground.	Grounding is located between the neutral of the equipment being used and the ground.
In earthing the circuit is physically connected to the earth which is zero potential to the ground.	In grounding the circuit is not physically connected to the ground but its potential is zero with respect to the other points.
The earthing is used in electrical equipment.	The grounding is used in the electrical industries.
In earth, there is an earth pit containing charcoal and salt. The earthing plate is placed vertically at the depth of 8feet.	The grounding system is placed vertically below a height 12feet(3.6metres)

This is all about the concept of earthing and grounding systems. From the above information, finally, we can conclude that the earthing system offers greater safety from electric shock for personal, equipment, and buildings. So, we need to learn about this type of earthing and grounding systems in a better manner to protect ourselves.

I hope this article helps you all to understand the difference between earthing and grounding.

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Indu R

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