This could be because the other paths are damaged, or there is too much electricity for them. To put it simply, the ground wire is only used when there is a fault or other problem in the electrical system. Rather than having that excess electricity result in a spark or damage to the device, it can safely travel through this wire and into the earth.
Almost all electrical systems will have a spot for a ground wire to be connected. When running a ground wire, it should be connected to the designated place on the device, and then run to a safe location where the energy can be dispersed.
This typically means having the wire lead into the earth, which is where this type of wire gets is name. In both home and commercial devices, it is common to have ground wires running from each outlet back to one central location typically near the circuit box , at which point it will connect to a grounding rod.
This rod will go directly into the ground so that the electricity can safely exit. It is also possible to have the ground wires connect back up to the electrical system so it can be sent back out to the electrical pole, where it will then be grounded, but that is not as common. Having a grounding rod for all ground wires to connect to in a building will make it much easier to add new wires and systems.
Oops, something went wrong. Please try again. Floor Marking. Tool Organization. Browse All Tool Organization Products. Lean and 5S Supplies. The service panel ground wire might lead to a cold-water pipe, which is connected to supply pipes that lead deep underground. The connection must be firmly clamped.
Hot-water pipes are not acceptable for grounds because they run only to the water heater, not into the earth. Because municipal water pipes are buried, a firm connection to a cold-water pipe forms an effective ground. If your home's receptacles have only two holes or if a receptacle analyzer indicates they are ungrounded, don't panic; people have lived with ungrounded homes for decades. However, grounding considerably improves a home's safety and is worth adding. If you want to ground an entire system, you have to call in a pro to rewire the entire home, which is typically an expensive job.
If you want to ground only one receptacle , you can ask an electrician to run an individual ground wire from the receptacle to a cold-water pipe. These offer protection similar to grounding. Installed correctly, a single GFCI can protect all the receptacles on a circuit. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Save Pin FB More. Credit: Stacey Brandford. Credit: Dave Toht. Comments 1 Add Comment. View Comments. One of the most important reasons for grounding electrical currents is that it protects your appliances, your home and everyone in it from surges in electricity. If lightning was to strike or the power was to surge at your place for whatever reason, this produces dangerously high voltages of electricity in your system.
If your electrical system is grounded, all of that excess electricity will go into the earth — rather than frying everything connected to your system. Having your electrical system grounded means you will be making it easy for power to be directed straight to wherever you need it, allowing electrical currents to safely and efficiently travel throughout your electrical system.
The earth provides a common reference point for the many voltage sources in an electrical system. One of the reasons why grounding helps to keep you safe is because the earth is such a great conductor, and because excess electricity will always take the path of least resistance. By grounding your electrical system, you are giving it somewhere to go other than into you — possibly saving your life.
Without a properly grounded electrical system, you are risking any appliances you have connected to your system being fried beyond repair. In the worst-case scenario, an overload of power can even cause a fire to start, risking not just extensive property and data loss but physical injury as well. In most homes, the wiring system is permanently grounded to a metal rod driven into the ground or a metal pipe extending into the house from an underground water-supply system.
A copper conductor connects the pipe or rod to a set of terminals for ground connections in the service panel. For wiring systems that use electrical cable covered in metal, the metal usually serves as the ground conductor between wall outlets and the service panel. In wiring systems that use plastic-sheathed cable, an extra wire is used for grounding.
Since electricity is always looking for the shortest path back to the earth, if there is a problem where the neutral wire is broken or interrupted, the grounding wire provides a direct path to the ground. Through this direct physical connection, the earth acts as a path of least resistance, preventing a person from becoming the shortest path, and suffering a serious electric shock.
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