Electrical Grounding

 

Hello Citizen! Safety Dog here with an important message about electrical grounding.

And about how cute I am.

The primary purpose of electrical grounding is to prevent electrical shock caused by current leaking into uninsulated metal parts of an electrical device. In a properly working device, the electrical leakage is carried harmlessly into the ground, instead of into you. The third prong on a plug is called the ground pin. When plugged into an outlet, it is this third wire that connects the electrical device to the grounding rod.

Image from www.nachi.org

In addition to grounding, there is double-insulation. This is a feature available on many portable power tools and equipment, as well as smaller metal tools commonly used around electrical wiring.

Image from www.licensedelectrician.com

For practical, every day application:

• Be sure that you never remove that third prong (ground pin) from a plug. The device will still work, but you will have put yourself at increased risk for potentially fatal electric shock!
• Use double-insulated hand/power tools when working with (or even near) electrical wiring.
• Make sure you are protected with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, in case the ground wire is not enough.
• Give your dog a cookie. Just to be safe.

Safety Dog away!!