Earthing and grounding are two popular electrical terms used in daily lives. Every house that contains an electricity connection is familiar with these two terms. For the safety of humans and house wiring, grounding and earthing are used. Let’s see what is the difference between earthing and grounding.
Difference between Earthing and Grounding in tabular form
| Earthing | Grounding |
| Earthing refers to the contact of a body with the ground. In the case of electric connections, some part of the equipment is placed with the contact of the ground. | Grounding is a method in which the current-carrying part of an electric network is connected to the ground. |
| Earthing is used to avoid an electric shock. | Grounding is used to balance the unbalanced loads. |
| Earthing is applied between the body of the equipment and the ground and put under the earth surface. | Grounding is applied between the neutral of the equipment and the ground. |
| The non-current carrying parts are used in earthing which are connected to a piece of a flat iron. | The current-carrying parts are used in grounding. |
| Zero potential is present in earthing. | Zero potential is absent in grounding. |
| In the process of earthing, Green coloured wire is used. | In the process of grounding, Black coloured wire is used. |
| Types Pipe earthing, Rod earthing, Plate earthing, Strip earthing, Earthing through tap |
Types Solid grounding, Resistance grounding, Reactance grounding |
| Earthing protects everyone from an electric shock. | Grounding protects electric appliances, home from an electric shock. |
| Earthing discharges the electrical energy to the earth which is considered as a neutral body. Earthing protects the premises against lightning and earth fault condition. | Grounding provides the return path to the current flowing through the circuit. Grounding stabilizes voltage levels. |
| Earthing is used in residential buildings, telecommunication, substations and power generation, heavy industries, etc. | Grounding is used in electric circuits. |
What is earthing?
Earthing is a process of connecting the non-current carrying part of any electrical equipment to the ground in order to protect human beings from an electric shock. Earthing has domestic as well as industrial use. During the occurrence of any fault in the system and the potential of the noncurrent carrying part increases as a result, the contact of the equipment with the ground discharges the leakage current to the ground and prevents the shock. In earthing, the system is physically connected to the ground with zero potential.
What is grounding?
The process of connecting a current-carrying part of any equipment to the ground is known as grounding. Grounding provides the path to an unwanted current in the circuit and protects the equipment from damage. The current-carrying equipment is not physically connected to the ground in grounding. During the occurrence of a fault, grounding discharges the fault current to the ground and balances the system.
Summary
Simply, grounding refers to the connection of the live part to the ground whereas earthing refers to the connection of the dead part to the ground. Both the processes serve as protection against electric shocks and damages, but their connection and working have differences.
Author
Sunmoni Gohain
NIT Silchar
