Grounding is used to dissipate electrical energy safely when faults occur. This is the third pin on your extension cord plug which allows electricity to flow when system insulation fails.

Just as two live wires go into a kettle from the house, a ground wire follows suit. Electricity normally flows from the home's electrical panel (or grid) through the ungrounded conductor to the kettle, heating up its element before returning to the panel through the grounded "neutral" conductor. The ground wire is connected to the kettle's metal housing and leads to a big conductive stake in the ground outside.

A damaged wire or faulty insulation in the kettle will pass electricity to its metal chassis which is connected to the conductive stake through the ground wire. This current is not restricted as the kettle's element is bypassed, so be aware that ground wires can overheat. A fuse or circuit breaker will limit excess flow to prevent a fire.

Electricity goes easily to any "zero potential" or grounded object in any way possible. A missing ground connection in that defective kettle would cause the electricity to remain in the appliance's metal chassis. Touching the kettle and sink simultaneously or standing on any wet surface while handling it would cause the electricity to use your body as a path to the ground, which is not only uncomfortable but can result in serious injury or death.

A safe system's loads are linked to a common grounding point. The system's negative or white wire is connected to this ground point, which relieves us of a disconnection device and an additional fuse set which satisfy the requirements of NEC/CEC.

Ground wire size is set by the NEC/CEC depending on the rating of the primary device which protects from excess current.

See our NEEC Section for further information.