Can You Tie Grounds Together From Different Circuits?

Ground wires are very important to every electrical circuit. They act as the safety barrier for the circuit against any power surge. Therefore, when connecting your ground wires, you have to do it correctly. So, can you tie grounds together from different circuits?

Can You Tie Grounds Together From Different Circuits?

It depends on many regulations for this case, and especially the circuits found in homes. Because Improper installation can lead to serious hazards such as fire or even critical injuries that could lead to death. Here comes the main job of regulations: putting standards for electrical jobs or tasks.

So, everybody must follow those standards for their and other people’s safety. The NEC or the national electrical code determines the rules that should be followed during the installation of any electrical circuit. Therefore, when applying any adjustment or improvement to the circuit, you should always refer back to the NEC.

First, you need to know which NEC code your area is subscribed to. You can be either subscribed to NEC 2011 or NEC 2014. Then, you can know which rules you have to follow.

NEC 2014

According to the NEC 2014you can tie up multiple grounds from different circuits as long as the circuits can be found in the same box and are on the same bus. So, unaware electricians can be protected from currents coming from other boxes. In addition, to decrease the load on the grounding system.

NEC 2011

According to the NEC 2011, the ground should only be added at or before the panel. The code states there should be ground equipment for each branch. You can tie them together, but they have to be in the raceway, and you can use only one ground wire if the circuits have the same amperage.

How To Know Your Area’s Code?

You can know your area’s code through your local authority; they can tell you which code your area has been subscribed to. You can also consult a local electrician who has been working in your area for a while. He could tell you which code your area is following. Because the area’s code can change from time to time, areas can subscribe to a new code.

You should always follow the correct code for your area because it determines whether your house wiring is up to standards. To clarify, houses that are not up to wiring standards their insurance can be affected and face some implications. You may not be able to claim your insurance in case of fire or electrical damage.

Can You Use Ground Electrode?

No, you can’t use the ground electrode because the excess current in the circuit should be directed towards a low resistance path. So, the breaker trips since the ground is a bad conductor. In case of any power surge, your multiple ground conductors should be connected properly, so the circuit works efficiently.

If you have unwell connected multiple ground conductors, your breakers will not work in case of a power surge. And this is due to the earth’s high resistance. So all ground electrodes need to be connected back to the supply’s main entry point with the main grounding conductor.

Can Circuits Have More Than One Ground?

It’s rare to find two grounds in one circuit, especially in home electrical wiring. You may not ever notice two grounds in the same circuit. However, there are some examples of two grounds wires in one circuit. Digital circuits and the mixed analog circuit are examples; they need separate ground wires for each, so the electrical noise is minimized.

As a result, when doing any electrical tasks or home improvement, you should not use two ground wires for one circuit. 

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Can You Use One Ground for 2 Power Supplies?

Yes, you can use it as long as the return wire has big size enough for 8 volt and 12 volt currents summation. Power supplies can share a ground properly with the right return wire size. Either if they were originally sharing the wire or you made them.

Is Ground Wire Required for Every Circuit?

Yes, a ground wire is required for every circuit to give up the necessity for a ground wire. Then, the positive voltage supply should be higher than the negative voltage supply unless the reference voltage is 0 volts. Usually, the reference is 0 volts, and the normal line is 0 volts. So, every circuit should have a ground wire.

Ground wires are important for your and other people’s safety. You can remove or modify the ground without understanding the consequences. Electricity is fatal and can lead to serious hazards such as fire.

Can Ground Wire Touch Other Ground Wire?

Yes, the ground wire can touch another ground wire finely. The ground wires can be connected at some point, and it doesn’t have to be only one point. However, ground wires are not necessarily to be touching each other. But it’s fine if it happens. There is no wrong with it as long as they are not touching exposed hot or live wires.

Can Ground Wire Touch Itself?

You can make ground wire touch itself, and there will be no danger or risk. The reason why it’s safe to do this is because circuits need more than one wire to be constructed. So, as long as it’s one wire, not two wires, or a conjugation between a grounded component and a wire, then it’s fine. Whether you are using DC or AC circuit, it’s the same thing.

Source

What Is a Ground Wire? And What’s His Job?

The ground wire is the safety barrier in any circuit, and its job starts when there is a power surge. The earth or the ground is used because of its negative charge. So, the positive charge flowing through the wires tends to go for negative energy in the ground. And then, the differential charge will be equalized.

The ground wire gets its name from the earth because it’s connected to it or buried in it. So, it’s a safe place to disperse any power surge away from people. This always happens at any short circuit or overload; the current is dispersed to the ground. Therefore, the main job of the ground wire is protection from overloading.

For example, when a lightning strike hits an electric circuit, it can create very high levels of voltage which can be dangerous. And these high levels can cause damage to your devices and appliances or burn them. So, the ground wire takes this surge and disperses it to the earth, and then the earth takes the rest of the job.

Interestingly, the ground wire is named in the USA as “grounding.” However, it’s named in the UK as “earthing.”

Is Ground The Same as Neutral?

No, it’s not. The ground wire is very different from the neutral wire because it’s responsible for the circuit’s safety. Meanwhile, the neutral is responsible for the current returning to the power source. Usually, the ground wire is colored green, but the neural is colored white or gray.

The neutral wire always carries a current; however, the ground doesn’t carry any current. Except when there is a power surge in the circuit, the ground wire disperses into the earth.

Conclusion

To sum up, ground wires connection and wiring are subjected to the NEC or the national electrical code. Every house must be up to the wiring standards or the code its neighborhood subscribed to. Because not meeting the wiring standards can obstacles your insurance in case of fire or electrical shock hazards.

You have to know your code before connecting two ground wires. But what you can’t do is use more than one ground wire for the same circuit. However, you have to use at least one ground wire for every circuit for your and other people’s safety. There’s no problem with the ground wire touching itself or another ground wire.

What can be a problem is not differentiating between the neutral wire and the ground wire. Neutral wire always carries a current, so you have to be more careful when dealing with it. Remember, electricity is fatal and can cause a lot of hazards such as fire and critical injuries. 

 

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