All about earth wires

Earth wires are your life-lines. If a fault occurs, power will flow to the earth by the shortest and easiest path. So if an appliance is not properly earthed, the power could flow through the body of the user causing serious injury or even death.

 

The earth wires from your power points join a main earth wire which in turn is attached to a metal stake driven into the ground and/or a metal water pipe. This connection should be checked from time to time to see that it is still connected, and not damaged.

 

Talk to a licensed electrical contractor if: 

• you are in any doubt about your earth connection
• the earthwire needs to be shifted for any reason
• a metal water pipe is altered
• a metal water pipe is replaced by a plastic water pipe