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Thursday, April 17, 2014

Difference between grounding and earthing

There is always misconception related to difference between grounding and Earthing.

Lets discuss the same:-

It’s generally Myth about ‘Grounding’ is that grounding done for current carrying parts to ground like transformer or generator neutral and ‘Earthing’ means connection of non-current carrying parts to ground, like metallic enclosures.



But as per IS 3043-1987  the terms ‘earthing’ and ‘grounding’ are synonymous. 

Possibly the various nomenclature is because of the usual conflicting using British language between your People in America & the British. 

As the British called it as being ‘earthing’, the People in America called it as being ‘grounding’. 

IEC & IS Standards refer as ‘earthing’, while IEEE & ANSI Standards refer as ‘grounding’.


To quote from IEC 60050:

“The terms ‘earth’ in addition to ‘ground’ have both been generally use to explain the most popular energy/signal reference interchangeably all over the world in the Electro-technical terminology. As the USA and other United States nations favor using the term ‘ground’, European nations such as the United kingdom and lots of other Eastern nations like the term‘earth’”.


The IEEE meaning of grounding is: “Ground (ground system) -

A performing connection, whether intentional or accidental, through which an electrical circuit or equipment is attached to the earth or some performing body of relatively large extent that serves  instead of the earth.”
To be used within Europe, when the generally recognized terms were changed as below, then your meaning continues to be same.

“Earth (earth system) - A performing connection, whether intentional or accidental, through which an electric circuit or devices are attached to the mass of earth or some performing body of relatively large extent that serves instead of the mass of Earth.”




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