Grounding vs Earthing

Differences between grounding and earthing:

In electrical engineering, grounding (or earthing) is a critical safety measure that involves connecting electrical systems or equipment to the earth. This connection provides a reference point for voltage levels and helps protect both people and equipment from electrical faults. Here are some differents between earhing and grounding:
  • 1.Earthing is more commonly used in Britain, European and most of the commonwealth countries standards (IEC, IS).
  • 2. Grounding is the word used in North American standards (NEC, IEEE, ANSI, UL).
  • 3. Earth or Ground is for safety concerns against leakage or residual currents on the system via least resistance path.
  • 4. The purpose of earthing is to minimize the risk of receiving an electric shock if touching metal parts when a fault is present. Generally green wire is used for this as a nomenclature.
  • 5. Earthing is to ensure safety or Protection of electrical equipment and Human by discharging the electrical energy to the earth.
  • 6. Grounding means connecting the live part (it means the part which carries current under normal condition) to the earth for example neutral of power transformer.
  • 7. Ground is May or May not be earthed.
  • 8. Generally Black wire is used for grounding as a nomenclature.
  • 9. Ground is a source for unwanted currents and also as a return path for main current some times. While earthing is done not for return path but only for protection of delicate equipments.
  • 10. Grounding is done to balance unbalanced load. While earthing is used between the equipment and earth pit so as to avoid electrical shock and equipment damage.
  • 11. Earthing is to protect the circuit elements whenever high voltage is passed by thunders or by any other sources while Grounding is the common point in the circuit to maintain the voltage levels.
  • 12. Earth is used for the safety of the human body in fault conditions while Grounding (As neutral earth) is used for the protection of equipment.
  • 13. If a neutral point of a generator or transformer is connected to zero potential then it is known as grounding.
At the same time if the body of the transformer or generator is connected to zero potential then it is known as earthing.