What is Electrical Grounding?
Electrical grounding offers a safe way to approach all electrical projects throughout the home
Electrical grounding offers a safe way to approach all electrical projects throughout the home. While often confusing to homeowners, it's essential to understand the concept when planning any electrical work. Electric flow and energy can get complicated, leaving room for mistakes and leading to potential injury.
Please keep reading to learn more about electrical grounding:
The basics of electrical grounding
Electrical grounding is a system whereby additional electricity can safely and efficiently travel to the ground through an electrical panel. In most cases, the grounding system won't be necessary. Rather, it acts as a safety backup process if there are any problems in the primary wiring system within the home.
Elements of an electrical grounding system
There are many elements to a grounding system similar to the usual wiring running through a house's walls. Hot and neutral wires are current carriers. On the rare occasion they break down, the grounding wires offer an alternative track for the electrical energy to reach the ground. This is what makes them so important. Electrical grounding systems are crucial to preventing electrical fires or other emergencies.
One may notice electricians using bare copper wires when installing certain electrical appliances. These essential grounding wires are attached to the home's electrical boxes. All of these reach what's known as a grounding bar in the home's service panel and, ultimately, a grounding rod.
The grounding rod is underground, providing the electricity with a place to go while minimizing risk.
Most homes have updated and intricate elements that make up a grounding system. However, some older houses from before the 1960s will have a variety of metal cables instead of copper cables. Homes from before the 1940s may not have grounding systems at all.
Other aspects of electrical grounding
While the wiring is the main focus of most electrical grounding systems, they also come with other built-in devices for additional safety. These elements include fuses and circuit breakers that keep grounding wires from overheating and will stop electrical currents in emergencies.
Appliances often have a third prong to go into grounding outlets on their plugs. Such appliances are safer for use as they have an internal grounding system.
Call the professionals for secure electrical work
Electrical appliances, wiring, and installation procedures are part of an intricate system that only a professional can address. Electrical companies can offer the expertise and equipment to complete the job securely and effectively.
Under no circumstances should a homeowner conduct wiring and electrical grounding independently. However, it's still essential for homeowners to understand the principles of electrical grounding. They will then recognize if they should call an electrician to fix possible grounding problems.
When you need a licensed electrician for commercial or residential electrical needs, call Zimmerman Electric at 310-378-1323.