How does grounding work

One clue that your wiring is old is when the outlet receptacles have two slots rather than three. This indicates the outlets may not be grounded. Your home wiring system also includes other safety devices to help prevent disaster. Circuit breakers or fuses protect and control each individual circuit. The breakers or fuses serve two functions: They protect the wires against overheating in the event that they are overloaded by too much electrical current being drawn through them; they also sense short circuits and trip or "blow" to instantly stop the flow of current when problems occur.

In a short circuit or ground fault situation, a sudden reduction in resistance causes an uncontrollable amount of current to flow, and the circuit breaker responds to this by tripping.

Finally, it is fairly common practice for the metal plumbing pipes in your home to also be connected to the grounding pathway. This offers additional protection should electricity come in contact with these metal pipes.

Often, this grounding is established by a grounding wire clamped to a metal water pipe near your water heater or where the public water line enters your home. Not only does your home wiring system have a grounding system for safety, but many plug-in appliances and devices do, too. Power tools, vacuums, and many other appliances are much safer when they have a third prong on the cord plug, which is shaped to fit the round grounding slot on an outlet receptacle.

The presence of this third prong indicates that the appliance has a grounding system, and it is essential that these be plugged into grounded outlets. Some people have been known to cut off the grounding prong on an appliance plug in order to make it fit an outlet or extension cord that has no grounding slot. This is an extremely dangerous practice that could lead to a shock if the internal wiring in the appliance short circuits.

Most people are familiar with the plug adapters than allow three-prong plugs to be inserted into two-slot outlet receptacles.

It is important to note that these offer grounding protection ONLY if the pigtail wire or metal loop on the adapter is properly attached to the mounting screw on the outlet cover plate, AND if that cover plate screw is connected to a metal box AND if that metal box is properly grounded.

This is no sure thing, by any means, so three-prong to two-slot adapters should be used with great caution, if at all.

The better solution is to plug three-prong plugs only in into three-slot receptacles that are grounded. Where a grounded outlet is not possible, as in older wiring, some protection is offered by installing a GFCI ground-fault circuit interrupter receptacle at that location. The GFCI will sense ground faults and shut off the power before straying current can cause problems. If they accept plugs with three prongs, your system should have three wires, one of which is a grounding wire.

Similarly, an appliance designed to be grounded is equipped with a three-wire cord and a three-pronged plug. The third wire and prong provide the ground link between the metal frame of the appliance and the grounding of the wiring system. The best thing you can do to create a safe electrical system is to ensure the whole system is grounded and the ground circuit is electrically continuous. Grounding your electrical system is a smart and easy way to make it a whole lot safer, as well as to protect against the very real possibility of having to deal with fluctuations in power supply.

If you want to safeguard all of your important assets, whether at home or at the office, as well as look out for the health and safety of everyone around you, find out if your electrical system is grounded — and if it is not, contact Platinum Electricians today on Platinum Platinum Electricians is rated 9.

Need a Plumber? Check out our business JetBlack Plumbers. Join Platinum Employment Opportunities. Platinum Electricians. Do not use a three-prong outlet with faulty wiring because it can invite a fire.

Call a certified electrician and fix the issue immediately. We stock an extensive inventory of safety switches, electrical supplies and materials that can greatly minimize the risk of short circuits and fires.

Call us at and talk directly with our sales professionals. It is an international clearinghouse, with , square facility located in Hayward, California. It keeps an extensive inventory of electrical connectors, conduit fitting, circuit breakers, junction boxes, wire cable, safety switches etc.

It procures its electrical materials supplies from top-notch companies across the globe. The Company also keeps an extensive inventory of electrical explosion proof products and modern electrical lighting solutions. Besides, it is able to meet the most discerning demands and ship material on the same day. Get to us…. Call Us Today! Understanding Electrical Grounding and How it Works. Previous Next. What is Electrical Grounding?

How does electrical grounding work? Grounding can be performed inside or outside, with or without grounding equipment. Grounding techniques can help you deal with distressing thoughts, from flashbacks to intrusive thoughts, in the moment.

We'll give you 30 techniques…. If you've driven by a barefoot runner, there's a good chance you've done a double-take and thought to yourself: "What in the world are they doing? Get smarter than stress with a little help from adaptogens. Rose quartz is known as the stone of love. What does the evidence say? Some say the base of all the chakras is the key to feeling stable, safe, and secure.

Want to boost your immunity with natural treatments? TCM has you covered. Can this ancient theory help you find balance in the modern day? Post-British education, she went on a search for her roots in Ayurveda.

Structured water is said to have a unique structure that offers health benefits. We'll review these claims and see if there's any evidence to support…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. What the science says.