What is the reason for grounding a circuit ?

In summary, circuit grounds serve practical and convenience purposes, such as providing a common reference point for circuit potentials and reducing clutter in diagrams. They also have safety benefits, particularly for circuits with AC mains voltages. The grounding between the two batteries in the first diagram may not have a specific reason and may just be a design choice. The circuit can still be used to draw the V-I graph without it. In terms of using transistors, one of the procedures is to ground the points that need to be kept at zero potential for safety reasons.
  • #1
shalikadm
63
0
I have seen that in some circuits there's grounding...I know that earthing is for keep a part of a circuit in a zero potential...Don't know why it's done...Here's some circuit's..Tell me why it's been earthed..
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  • #2
Grounds on circuit diagrams can be there for practical reasons or for convenience, or both.

Note that not all circuit grounds are actual Earth connections -- that is, not all grounds have a physical connection to the Earth. They may connect to a metal chassis (or circuit container) or just represent one of the common power supply rails (usually the 0V supply reference point, particularly for circuits with multiple supply voltages such as +/- 15V, or 12V and 5V, and so on).

When used for convenience they represent a common reference point from which circuit potentials can be measured, and are treated as though wires were drawn connecting them all together. This serves to unclutter diagrams, especially where if the wires were actually drawn in they would cross over other wires and make the drawing harder to understand.

The practical reasons include shielding (from stray electromagnetic noise), polarity recognition for interconnecting circuits, and safety features. Actual Earth connections are important for safety reasons so that equipment potentials don't 'float' far from Earth potential and create shock hazards when people come in contact with the chassis or controls; This is true particularly when AC mains voltages are involved. Actual Earth connections can also be important for high performance antenna systems, where a 'pool' of charges at constant potential (Earth ground potential) is helpful for allowing maximum current flow in the antenna circuit in response to induced signal voltages.

Circuit grounding is actually a pretty complex subject, and in some cases is more of an art than a science particularly in sensitive circuits where noise suppression and avoidance of exotic feedback paths is necessary. Google "ground loop" or "phantom loop" for a taste of the topic.
 
  • #3
Our building at work has a "single point grounding system" for all of the test equipment. This enables all of the different pieces of testing equipment, which aren't all connected directly to each other, to use the same reference point for measuring voltage values and serves as a safety mechanism in case of electrical equipment faults. Without this, different grounds could have different potentials and cause testing failures.
 
  • #4
The first diagram shows a circuit that is used to measure current across the diode against voltage and to draw V-I characteristic diagram for a diode..when the current flows to the left direction the diode is forward biased and when the current flows to right direction the it's reverse biased...But I wonder what the reason is for grounding between the two batteries having opposite terminals connected...explain this for me..
 
  • #5
shalikadm said:
The first diagram shows a circuit that is used to measure current across the diode against voltage and to draw V-I characteristic diagram for a diode..when the current flows to the left direction the diode is forward biased and when the current flows to right direction the it's reverse biased...But I wonder what the reason is for grounding between the two batteries having opposite terminals connected...explain this for me..

There may not be any reason other than that was simply how the diagram was designed. If these are practice circuits then they don't need to be real items.
 
  • #6
Drakkith said:
There may not be any reason other than that was simply how the diagram was designed. If these are practice circuits then they don't need to be real items.

So can we use that circuit to draw the V-I graph without that grounding between the the two cells ?
 
  • #7
shalikadm said:
So can we use that circuit to draw the V-I graph without that grounding between the the two cells ?

If you aren't involving the ground at all, then I don't see why not.
 
  • #8
In our coursework it mention,that we must undergo 3 procedures before using transistors..

1.forward bias EB junction with low voltage
2.reverse bias BC junction with high voltage
3.ground points where it should be kept in a zero potential.

I don't understand the 3rd step..what are the points that should undergo a zero potential and why ?
 

1. What is the purpose of grounding a circuit?

The purpose of grounding a circuit is to provide a safe path for electrical current to flow in case of a fault or surge. It also helps to protect equipment and prevent electrocution.

2. How does grounding a circuit work?

Grounding a circuit involves connecting the circuit to the earth or a conductive material, such as a metal rod, which serves as a reference point for electrical potential. This allows any excess electrical current to flow into the ground instead of damaging equipment or causing harm to humans.

3. What happens if a circuit is not grounded?

If a circuit is not grounded, any excess electrical current will have nowhere to go and can cause damage to equipment or lead to electric shock. This can also result in power surges and other electrical disturbances.

4. Are all circuits required to be grounded?

In most cases, yes. Building codes typically require that all circuits be grounded to ensure safety and protect against electrical hazards. However, there may be some exceptions, such as in older buildings where grounding was not a standard practice.

5. Can grounding a circuit prevent electrocution?

Grounding a circuit can help prevent electrocution by providing a safe path for electrical current to flow. However, it is not a foolproof method and other safety precautions should also be taken, such as using GFCI outlets and avoiding contact with live wires.

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