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What Is The Difference Between Bonding, Grounding and Earthing
What Is The Difference Between Bonding, Grounding and Earthing
Content
1. Introduction
2. Bonding
3. Earthing
4. Grounding
5. Micro Difference between Earthing and Grounding
6. Illegal Practice of interchange Purpose of Grounding and earthing wire
7. Conclusion
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8/29/2017 What is the difference between Bonding, Grounding and Earthing?
Introduction
One of the most misunderstood and confused concept is difference between
Bonding, Grounding and Earthing. Bonding is more clear word compare to
Grounding and Earthing, but there is a micro difference between Grounding and
Earhing.
Earthing and Grounding are actually different terms for expressing the
same concept.
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8/29/2017 What is the difference between Bonding, Grounding and Earthing?
Here we may say that Earthing and grounding are nearly same by
practice.
But In the TT Type Power Distribution System (in India) Neutral is only
earthed (here it is actually called Grounding) at distribution source (at
distribution transformer) and Four wires (Neutral and Three Phase) are
distributed to consumer. While at consumer side all electrical equipment body
are connected and earthed at consumer premises (here it is called Earthing).
Consumer has no any permission to mix Neutral with earth at his premises
here earthing and grounding is the different by practice.
In both above case Earthing and Grounding are used for the same
Purpose. Lets try to understand this terminology one by one.
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Bonding
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Bonding ensures that these two things which are bonded will be at the same
electrical potential. That means we would not get electricity building up in one
equipment or between two different equipment. No current flow can take place
between two bonded bodies because they have the same potential.
The primary reason for bonding is personnel safety, so someone touching two
pieces of equipment at the same time does not receive a shock by becoming
the path of equalization if they happen to be at different potentials. The Second
reason has to do with what happens if Phase conductor may be touched an
external metal part.
The bonding helps to create a low impedance path back to the source. This will
force a large current to flow, which in turn will cause the breaker to trip.
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Earthing
Earthing means connecting the dead part (it means the part which does not
carries current under normal condition) to the earth for example electrical
equipments frames, enclosures, supports etc.
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To avoid this non-current carrying metal parts of the electrical system are
connected to the general mass of earth by means of an earthing system
comprising of earth conductors to conduct the fault currents safely to the
ground.
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Grounding
Grounding means connecting the live part (it means the part which carries
current under normal condition) to the earth for example neutral of power
transformer. It is done for the protections of power system equipment and to
provide an effective return path from the machine to the power source.
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All electrical/electronic circuits (AC & DC) need a reference potential (zero
volts) which is called ground in order to make possible the current flow from
generator to load. Ground is May or May not be earthed. In Electrical Power
distribution it is either earthed at distribution Point or at Consumer end but it is
not earthed in Automobile( for instance all vehicles electrical circuits have
ground connected to the chassis and metallic body that are insulated from earth
through tires).
There may exist a neutral to ground voltage due to voltage drop in the wiring,
thus neutral does not necessarily have to be at ground potential.
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In a properly balanced system, the phase currents balance each other, so that
the total neutral current is also zero. For individual systems, this is not
completely possible, but we strive to come close in aggregate.
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8/29/2017 What is the difference between Bonding, Grounding and Earthing?
1. Difference in Terminology
Ground is a source for unwanted currents and also as a return path for main
current some times. While earthing is done not for return path but only for
protection of delicate equipments. It is an alternate low resistance path for
current.
When we take out the neutral for a three phase unbalanced connection and
send it to ground, it is called grounding. Grounding is done to balance
unbalanced load. While earthing is used between the equipment and earth pit
so as to avoid electrical shock and equipment damage.
Earth is used for the safety of the human body in fault conditions
while Grounding (As neutral earth) is used for the protection of
equipment. Earthing is a preventive measure while Grounding is just a
return path.
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8/29/2017 What is the difference between Bonding, Grounding and Earthing?
The ground conductor provides a return path for fault current when a phase
conductor accidentally comes in contact with a grounded object. This is a safety
feature of the wiring system and we would never expect to see grounding
conductor current flow during normal operation.
Earthing and Grounding both is refer to zero potential, but the system
connected to zero potential is differ than Equipment connected to zero potential
.If a neutral point of a generator or transformer is connected to zero potential
then it is known as grounding.
The term Earthing means that the circuit is physically connected to the ground
and it is Zero Volt Potential to the Ground (Earth) but in case of Grounding
the circuit is not physically connected to ground, but its potential is zero(where
the currents are algebraically zero) with respect to other point, which is also
known as Virtual Grounding.
Earth having zero potential whereas neutral may have some potential. That
means neutral does not always have zero potential with respect to ground. In
earthing we have Zero Volt potential references to the earth while in grounding
we have local Zero Volt potential reference to circuit. When we connect two
different Power circuits in power distribution system, we want to have the same
Zero Volt reference so we connect them and grounds together.
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Neutral wire in grid connections is mandatory for safety. Imagine a person from
4th floor in a building uses Earth wire (which is earthed in the basement at
Basement) as neutral to power his lights. Another Person from 2nd floor has a
normal setup and uses neutral for the same purpose. Neutral wire is also
earthed at the ground level (as per USA practice Neutral is Grounded (earthed)
at Building and as per Indian Practice it is Grounded (earthed) at Distribution
Transformer).
However, ground wire (Neutral wire) has a much lower electrical resistance
than Earth Wire (Earthing) which results in a difference of electrical potential
(i.e. voltage) between them. This voltage is quite a hazard for anyone touching
a Earth wire (Metal Body of Equipment) as it may have several tens of volts.
The second issue is legality. Using ground wire instead of neutral makes you
an energy thief as the meter uses only the Phase and neutral for recording your
energy consumption. Many Consumers make energy theft by using Earthing
wire as a Neutral wire in an Energy meter.
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Conclusion
Ground is a source for unwanted currents and also as a return path for
main current. While earthing is done not for return path but only for
protection of delicate equipments. It is an alternate low resistance path for
current.
Earth is used for the safety of the human body in fault conditions while
Grounding (As neutral earth) is used for the protection of equipment.
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