Grounding Defined

Grounding means connected to the earth and refers to the process of joining all non-current-carrying conductors in the electrical system and making a low-resistance connection between them and the earth or some conducting body that serves in place of the earth. The purpose of grounding is to stabilize voltage in relation to the earth or to another body that serves in place of the earth so that the voltage measured between an ungrounded conductor (also referred to as the “hot,” “live,” or phase conductor) and a grounded object is always at the same potential which is zero. For practical electrical circuits, the earth or ground potential is usually taken to be zero and everything is referenced to the earth. Electrical potential is the difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit and it is expressed in volts. By keeping the potential at zero (no difference in potential) on the components of conductive systems such as water piping and fuel gas piping, the possibility for shock or electrocution for someone who comes into contact with such components is greatly reduced.