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Hello eveyone,

I want to know whether there is any difference between earthig and grounding? and What are the different types of grounding?

Thanks and have a nice day!

It's the same.

Grounding (American) = Earthing (everywhere else)

Two different names for the same thing. Earthing is used in European standards and Grounding is used in North American standards. The governinng standard such as NEC or NFPA 70 is used in United states and covers grounding.

>I want to know whether there is any difference between >earthig and grounding? <

One of the most misunderstood concepts is earthing and grounding. We all understand that its necessary, and have a vague idea how to go about doing it but often don't really have a good concept of what we are trying to accomplish.

We need to understand that there are really two seperate things we are doing that we call grounding. The first, is to reference our electrical source to earth (usually via connection to some kind of rod driven into the earth or some other metal that has direct contact with the earth). In the US system, this is typically accomplished via a 120/240-3 wire system where neutral has a connection to earth at the source (for residences). Industrial power that has an earth reference has other means of referencing to earth, but generally all have some direct conenction to earth. The exception of course is 480V delta which often has no earth connection.

The second thing we often call grounding is really bonding. thats when we take and connect all the metal parts in our systems that might become energized (such as if a conductor came loose). This is done with equipment grounding conductors or sometimes with conduit or raceway systems. The key is to get all the metal peices electrically connected together. All these metal parts are then connected to the electrical referance point (neutral in the case of residences). That way if a hot conductor comes in contact with a piece of metal a current path exists back to the neutral point that causes the branch circuit protector to open up because there is a short circuit.

> and What are the different types of grounding? <

I don't understand your question. there are several means by which things can be bonded together (if thats what you mean). There are also several ways you can make a reference from your electrical system to earth.

Grounding is connecting to a widely available conductor or network of conductors, such as a chassis. Earthing is the kind of that grounding where that widely available conductor just happens to be the earth.

Robert Scott
Real-Time Specialties
Embedded Systems Consulting

Here's some additional info and links for further reading if you're interested:

1) Difference between earthing and grounding?
Seems to be a language difference:
grounding = American, earthing = British

2) Different types of grounding? Depends again
on language/location. I've seen equipment
grounding, signal grounding, etc. Read up:
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=100397
http://www.mikeholt.com/cgi-bin/codeforum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=7 ;hardset=;start_point=;DaysPrune=

JC