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What is Earthing, and why is it important for electricity?

Mar 20, 2021 | By Paramount

Ever got an electric shock while using regular switchboards or running water taps? These blows are caused due to the lack of what is known as Earthing. You must be wondering how running water can give you tingles, right? Well, somewhere in your house, an active wire is disconnected from its circuit, and the Earthing is not done properly. It\'s important to know about such minor concepts that can save you from a shock and help you secure your home with a complete and unbroken electrical layout. Now, before getting any deeper into the details, let\'s first discuss what Earthing is and why it is important for you to get it done by an expert using the best quality wires.

 

What on Earth is Earthing?

By definition, Earthing is the process of transferring the immediate discharge of the electricity directly to the earth with the help of the low resistance wire. More comprehensively, Earthing protects you from an electric shock. When you touch a faulty electrical installation\'s metal part, its electric currents can flow through your body to complete its circuit. Think of yourself as a medium that\'s connecting that appliance\'s electrical current to the earth.

So when you touch an electrical device & experience an unpleasant current flowing through your body, it\'s time to call an electrician and get the Earthing checked. It\'s secured by completing the broken current path by connecting the neutral wire to the ground. A neutral wire carries electricity back to the device to complete the circuit.

This brings us to the next section.

 

Types of Earthing

Essentially, there are three types of Earthing, classified on the basis of material used to carry out the procedure. Plate Earthing uses a copper or galvanized iron plate that is planted inside the earth to connect with the electrical conductors. In Pipe Earthing, a galvanized iron pipe with holes is used, and in Rod Earthing, a rod made of galvanized steel is used. Now, you can leave the rest of the details to the wiring experts and let them secure your house.

Let\'s talk about why Earthing is important for electricity?

 

Why do you need Earthing?

 Earth\'s potential is zero volts, and it helps keep the balance in the electrical system by acting as a neutral. When Earthing is improper, high voltages can cause severe damage to human life and, of course, to the appliance itself. Also, in such power surge situations, the grounded circuit can keep the appliance from heating up or getting all burned out. Your home needs a balanced distribution of voltage that maintains stability, and Earthing helps in achieving that.

This eliminates the chances of circuits getting overloaded.

Earthing is affected by a number of factors that are kept into consideration while it\'s done. The nature of the soil, earth\'s resistance, salts in the soils, soil composition, and whether there are any obstructions in the ground beneath are some of the determinants that relate to Earthing\'s effectiveness. In case you experience any sort of mild shocks from metal-containing objects like wires, pipes, ducts, or any appliance at home, you may need to call an expert. The shock you get due to bad Earthing can get even more intense if you\'re standing on a wet surface or surrounded by metals and can lead to severe conditions like cardiac arrest or burns. This is why you don\'t just need a secure electrical layout at home, but also the wiring needs to be with the best quality wires and cables.