Grounding-Earthing 2

[nkn5]

I have got a doubt. This might be silly a question to some people. But this is irritating me from long time
-Why does two words "EARTH" and "GROUND" are used? Is there any technical difference between them?

Based on my knowledge, I felt that EARTH/EARTHING we use in AC. and Grounding is some thing use in DC (Static Electricity also) Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[sreid]

My two bits;

Ground-American

Earth-British

 

[waross]

While the North Americans are well grounded, the British and Europeans always seem more down to earth.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[rbulsara]

And for those outside of the USA and UK:

IEC standards' earthing = ANSI/IEEE standard's grounding.


Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[Warpspeed]

Ground and earth have the same meaning, even in a flying aircraft.

 

[nkn5]

Thank you guys for you answers.

 

[potteryshard]

Our electrical engineering department was taken over by a politically astute civil engineer some years ago. When asked by the new manager how she was doing in the job, I replied that she seemed to be "well grounded." She took it as a compliment but my intent was to imply that she had zero potential.

 

[Skogsgurra]

Civil Engineer in an electrical department?

Aren't civil engineers supposed to build roads and bridges? Was she employed to handle earth (aka 'dirt')?

BTW, in our languages, 'earth' and 'ground' have only one word: 'jord'. So we never have to care about THAT problem. We have quite a few other problems, though.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

--------------------------------------
100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...

 

[Artisi]

Come to Thailand where earth or ground means something you stand on, when it comes to electrics, earthing or grounding means to fix the earth wire to the concrete wall via a self-tapping screw and plastic wall plug - or just ignore it completely although sometime you need to cut-off the earth pin on a 3 pin plug so it will fit into the 2 pin power outlet.

For those in the know, you always touch anything metal in the house with the back of the hand before venturing any further.

 

[ScottyUK]

Wow, I guess there are a lot of undertakers in Thailand.


----------------------------------

If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[Skogsgurra]

I guess you are right, Scotty. And that 'earthing' means just that - and nothing electrical.

Happy New Year! BTW.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

--------------------------------------
100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...

 

[Artisi]

Unfortunately it comes down to who cares, if it's not me that's dead then it doesn't mean anything to me, and when you can kill over 12000 people a year on the roads and 600 /700 people over the Thai newyear holidays of about 10 days a 100 or so electrocutions is nothing.

 

[Skogsgurra]

Artisi

I can understand that there are a lot of electrical accidents. This picture (attached) shows a kettle for making tea that I found in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

The two wires are connected to mains and the heating takes place when current passes through water between the two disks at the bottom of the kettle.

Anyone opening the lid and using a spoon is in for a schock - sometimes lethal.

There was an attempt to reduce the risk, the lid once was interlocked so it couldn't be opened when cord was connected. But that interlock was long gone and this was really a 'kettle of death'. Staff could not understand what I was talking about. "We haven't had any deaths" was the answer. Not unexpected.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

--------------------------------------
100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...

 

[Artisi]

Skogsgurra.

This is no different to what I grew up with in Australia, where most water kettles consisted of an element wrapped round a ceramic holderand attached in the same manner, I have also seen the type you showed in Australia.

If I remember correctely the plug fitted thru' the lid so it couldn't be opened with the lid closed, of course if the lid was damange or in many case removed completly, as you say a death trap to the unwary.

 

[Warpspeed]

Artsi is quite right.

In Australia we had an identical device until fairly recent times, and nobody ever died from them that I can ever recall.

The lid is cunningly hinged in such a way that it cannot be opened even slightly with the power plug inserted. This feature can be clearly seen in the photograph posted by Gunnar.

The most lethal electrical devices I can recall here in Australia, were small electric hand held drills, (usually of British manufacture) that had an all metal diecast body.

The internal wiring was not wonderful, especially after sometimes primitive home handyman repairs.
These handy little workshop tools dispatched more than a few people to their maker.

Three cheers for double insulation !