Earthing & Grounding

Myth: 'Grounding' implies connection of current carrying parts to ground, like transformer or generator neutral and 'Earthing' implies connection of non-current carrying parts to ground, like metallic enclosures.

Fact: As per IS 3043-1987, vide Cl. 0.7, the terms 'earthing' and 'grounding' are synonymous. Perhaps the different nomenclature is due to the usual conflicting usage of English language between the Americans & the British. While the British termed it as 'earthing', the Americans termed it as 'grounding'. IEC & IS Standards refer as 'earthing', while IEEE & ANSI Standards refer as 'grounding'.

To quote from IEC 60050: "The terms 'earth' as well as 'ground' have both been in general use to describe the common power/signal reference point interchangeably around the world in the Electro-technical terminology. While the USA and other North American countries favor the use of the term 'ground', European countries including the UK and many other Eastern countries prefer the term 'earth'".

To quote from "Earthing Practice" - CDA Publication 119 - 1997 (vide BS 7430:1991 Code of Practice for Earthing): "It is worth noting that in Europe we tend to use the term earthing, whilst in North America, the term "grounding" is more common.

The IEEE definition of grounding is: "Ground (ground system) - A conducting connection, whether intentional or accidental, by which an electric circuit or equipment is connected to the earth or some conducting body of relatively large extent that serves in place of the earth."

For use within Europe, if the generally accepted terms were replaced as below, then the meaning remains the same.

"Earth (earth system) - A conducting connection, whether intentional or accidental, by which an electric circuit or equipment is connected to the mass of earth or some conducting body of relatively large extent that serves in place of the mass of earth."