ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Grounding beyond the third wire
Grounding is more than a single wire. System and equipment grounding have different roles, and safety depends on a properly established path.
This article preserves the topic and URL of Terra’s existing blog post while updating technical claims against cited sources.
Are system and equipment grounding the same?
No. System grounding connects a conductor of an electrical system to earth. Equipment grounding provides a fault-current path for metal parts that should not normally be energized. OSHA describes these as separate functions.
Why does continuity matter?
An equipment grounding path needs to remain continuous and have suitable electrical properties. A loose or corroded connection, or an unsuitable component, can compromise that path. Operation of a protective device during a fault depends on the complete system and its design.
Is choosing a product enough?
No. Conductors, connections and electrodes need to be considered together. Material, dimensions and installation conditions are determined from project information. Catalog dimensions help compare products; they do not establish system suitability on their own.