What is earthing? Give the importance of earthing.
Earthing: Earthing means connecting metallic body of the electrical equipment to earth to avoid the hazards due to leakage current. If the leakage current keeps circulating in the body of the equipment, it might result in electrical shock to person who touches the metallic body.
Importance of Earthing: i) To provide protection and safety to the operator. ii) To provide protection and safety to the equipment. iii) To facilitate the balanced supply conditions. iv) To provide safe path to discharge lightning and short circuit currents. v) To isolate the faulty section. vi) To protect installation from sudden high voltages, switching surges with lightning arrestor and surge suppressor.
Meaning of earthing: Connecting the metallic frame of the electrical machines /any electrical equipment body etc. to ground by using wire/conductor is known as earthing.
Importance of Earthing:
1. To provide an alternative path for the leakage current to flow towards earth.
2. To save human life from danger of electrical shock due to leakage current.
3. To protect high rise buildings structure against lightening stroke.
4. To provide safe path to dissipate lightning and short circuit currents.
5. To provide stable platform for operation of sensitive electronic equipment’s.