Difference Between Grounding and Earthing

One of the major difference between the grounding and the earthing is that in grounding, the current carrying part is connected to the ground whereas in earthing the non-current carrying parts is connected to ground. The other differences between them are explained below in the form of the comparison chart.

Content: Grounding V/S Earthing

• Comparison Chart
• Definition
• Key Differences
• Specification for Earth Electrode

Comparison Chart

Basis For Comparison	Grounding	Earthing
Definition	The current carrying part is connected to ground.	The body of the equipment is connected to ground.
Location	Between the neutral of the equipment and ground	Between the equipment body and earth pit which is placed under the earth surface.
Symbol
Zero Potential	Does not have	Have
Protection	Protect the power system equipment.	Protect the human from electric shock.
Application	Provide the return path to the current.	It discharges the electrical energy to the earth.
Types	Three (Solid, Resistance and Reactance grounding)	Five (Pipe, Plate, Rod earthing, earthing through tap and strip earthing)
Color of wire	Black	Green
Use	For balancing the unbalance load.	For avoiding the electrical shock.
Examples	Neutral of generator and power transformer is connected to ground.	The enclosure of the transformer, generator, motor etc. are connected to the earth.

Definition of Grounding

In grounding, the current carrying parts are directly connected to the ground. The grounding provides the return path for the leakage current and hence protect the power system equipment from damage.

When the fault occurs in the equipment, the current in all the three phases of the equipment become unbalance.The grounding discharges the fault current to the ground and hence makes the system balance

The grounding has several advantages like it eliminates the surge voltage and also discharge the over voltage to the ground. The grounding provides the great safety to the equipment and improves the service reliability.

Definition of Earthing

The ‘earthing’ means the connection of non-current carrying part of the equipment to the earth. When the fault occurs in the system, then the potential of the non-current part of the equipment raises, and when any human or stray animal touch the body of the equipment, then they may get shocked.

The earthing discharges the leakage current to the earth and hence avoid the personnel from the electric shock. It also protects the equipment from lightning strokes and provides the discharge path for the surge arrester, gap and other devices.

The earthing is achieved by connecting the parts of the installation to the earth by using the earth conductor or earth electrode in intimate contact with the soil placed with some distance below the ground level.

Specifications for Earth Electrodes

1. The earthing electrode should not be placed near the building whose installation system is earthed more than 1.5 m away.
2. The resistance of the earth wire should not be more than 1 ohm.
3. The wire use for electrode and circuit should be made up of the same material.
4. The electrodes should be placed in vertical position so that it can touch the layers of the earth.

The size of the conductor should not be less than 2.6 mm² or half of the wire used for electrical wiring. Bare copper wire is used for earthing and grounding. Green 6 THHN (Thermoplastic high heat neutral coating wire) and gauged copper wire of different sizes like 2,4,6,8 etc. are also used for earthing and grounding.