How do l know if my house is grounded correctly?

Is Your House Grounded Correctly? Here's How to Find Out!
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Richard Zi is the General Manager of ZW Cable and expert in cable industry for over 15 years. I would like to share my experience in cable field. ZW Cable is leading Chinese cable manufacturer. We can choose right size cable and solve all your cable problem. If you have any question, please feel free to contact me. I will try my best to give your cable solutions.

The ground wire is as vital as the earth leakage protection switch. It will not be put into operation easily, but whenever there is any leakage in line, the leakage current will flow through the ground to the earth, and thus, the human body will avoid the risk of getting electrified. Consequently, the ground wire is a lifeline during the most critical of situations. But now there are too many ground is just a decoration, there is no effective grounding? I am sure lot many shall be having such doubts. So, how do we verify the state of the earth wire? Three methods are provided below:

  1. Observe the switchboard: Look inside the switchboard to see if there is a grounding rod. This is usually a green rod or metal bar that connects to the ground wire. If you see a ground wire (usually a yellow-green stripe or bare copper) connected to this ground rod, your system has a grounding system. However, this alone will not completely determine the effectiveness of the grounding.
  2. Bulb Test: It’s a simple method. Connect a light bulb between the fire and ground wires. If the bulb glows normally, it indicates a good ground; if the bulb doesn’t light up or is dimly lit, it could mean a poor ground.
  3. Multimeter Measurement:
    • Use the voltage setting of your multimeter. Measure the voltage between the fire and zero wires, which should be about 220 V. Then measure the voltage between the fire and ground wires. If this voltage is close to or slightly less than the voltage between the Fire and Zero wires (no more than 5V), the ground is well grounded.
    • Another method is to set the multimeter to AC voltage 750V and check the voltage between the fire wire and the ground wire. If the voltage value is much lower than 220V, it means that there is a problem with the grounding.
  4. Leakage protector test: You can use the socket tester with leakage protection, or by indirect bulbs between the fire and ground wires and observe the leakage protector in the home to determine whether the trip. If the leakage protector does not trip under normal conditions, but immediately trips when a simulated leakage occurs, the grounding system is working properly.
  5. Ground resistance tester: It is the most professional way to directly measure the grounding resistance of the ground wire. If the resistance value is less than 4 ohms, it indicates that the grounding is good; greater than 4 ohms is unqualified.
  6. Professional electrician check: If you are not sure how to operate the above methods, the safest way is to ask a professional electrician to carry out the check, they have professional tools and knowledge to ensure safety and accuracy.

Physical damage and other factors can also lead to ground wire failure, after the failure of the ground wire not only has no protective function, but also in a device leakage, so that all the equipment connected to the ground wire are charged. So the selection of suitable and high-quality ground wire is equally important, the ground wire should be selected with good conductivity, corrosion-resistant metal materials, such as copper or aluminum wire.
We can also see more about how home wiring can be selected to enhance the safety of your electrical system: Discover the Perfect House Wire for Your Wiring Needs

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