Grounding wire in household circuitry?

Thread starter remorris44
Start date Jun 27, 2015
Tags

Circuitry Grounding Wire

In summary: This is very true - as far as it goes. But if you have a house full of devices, some of them could have been installed years ago. It is very possible that there could be a resistive connection from 'one side' of your supply to Earth. No one would know about that; everything would be working fine. However, the 'other side' of your circuit would now have full mains volts on it so you could no longer go ahead and touch it, secure in the knowledge that you would be safe. The value of leakage resistance wouldn't need to be that low, for the 'hot' side to be able to pass a significant enough current to kill you without blowing a fuse.What you are suggesting is

Jul 5, 2015

the_emi_guy

gt 5 said:

If houwever there is no ground wire, you MAY become the conduit to the Earth and complete the circuit into the Earth's infinite 'sink' or 'supply' of electrons..

I should also point out that the Earth does not have an infinite number of electrons. It may be a large number, but then again the number of electrons in a short piece of wire is also a large number. When dealing with quantitative topics it is usually not good to invoke infinity.

From quick Google search:
Number of electrons in earth: order of 10^50
Number of electrons in 1m long piece of wire: order of 10^23.

<h2>1. What is the purpose of a grounding wire in household circuitry?</h2><p>The grounding wire is an essential safety feature in household circuitry. Its main purpose is to protect people and appliances from electrical shock in the event of a fault or malfunction in the electrical system. It directs excess electricity into the ground, preventing it from passing through a person or appliance.</p><h2>2. How does a grounding wire work?</h2><p>A grounding wire is connected to the ground or earth, which acts as a large reservoir for electric charge. In the event of a fault, excess electricity will flow through the grounding wire and into the ground, effectively neutralizing the electrical current and preventing it from causing harm.</p><h2>3. Are all household circuits required to have a grounding wire?</h2><p>Yes, according to most electrical codes, all household circuits must have a grounding wire. This includes both new and old homes. It is an important safety measure that helps protect against electrical hazards.</p><h2>4. Can I install a grounding wire myself?</h2><p>It is not recommended to install a grounding wire yourself unless you have proper training and knowledge in electrical work. It is best to hire a licensed electrician to ensure the grounding wire is installed correctly and meets all safety requirements.</p><h2>5. What happens if a grounding wire is not present in a household circuit?</h2><p>If a grounding wire is not present in a household circuit, there is an increased risk of electrical shock and potential damage to appliances. In the event of a fault, excess electricity may not be directed into the ground, causing it to pass through a person or appliance and potentially causing harm or damage.</p>

1. What is the purpose of a grounding wire in household circuitry?

The grounding wire is an essential safety feature in household circuitry. Its main purpose is to protect people and appliances from electrical shock in the event of a fault or malfunction in the electrical system. It directs excess electricity into the ground, preventing it from passing through a person or appliance.

2. How does a grounding wire work?

A grounding wire is connected to the ground or earth, which acts as a large reservoir for electric charge. In the event of a fault, excess electricity will flow through the grounding wire and into the ground, effectively neutralizing the electrical current and preventing it from causing harm.

3. Are all household circuits required to have a grounding wire?

Yes, according to most electrical codes, all household circuits must have a grounding wire. This includes both new and old homes. It is an important safety measure that helps protect against electrical hazards.

4. Can I install a grounding wire myself?

It is not recommended to install a grounding wire yourself unless you have proper training and knowledge in electrical work. It is best to hire a licensed electrician to ensure the grounding wire is installed correctly and meets all safety requirements.

5. What happens if a grounding wire is not present in a household circuit?

If a grounding wire is not present in a household circuit, there is an increased risk of electrical shock and potential damage to appliances. In the event of a fault, excess electricity may not be directed into the ground, causing it to pass through a person or appliance and potentially causing harm or damage.