How to identify poor grounding

Grounding testing becomes a necessary procedure in any electrical network if there is a suspicion that its protective function may not be connected or work poorly. It is for these purposes that specialized devices were invented - multimeters, the use of which contributes to the solution of tasks. Their main disadvantage is the high price, because not every owner will want to buy an expensive device for single use. That is why, you should be aware of all the available options for self-checking the availability and quality of grounding.

So, for starters, it is necessary to de-energize the room by disconnecting the input shield from electricity. Then, you can begin to disassemble the outlet for a visual inspection. The absence of a yellow-green wire connected to the terminal will be a direct indicator that grounding is not used in principle. However, there are also cases when a jumper is installed between the “ground” and the corresponding terminal. This indicates the established "zeroing", which is unsafe.

If all three wires are connected to the terminals, but there is a need to check the correct operation of the ground loops, then do this in two ways: using the previously described instrument multimeter or using a self-assembled control lamps.

The first method is quite simple, it consists in connecting the measuring device to the circuit, measuring the voltage between zero and phase, as well as ground and phase.

The presence of a difference between the two results obtained indicates the presence of grounding. The absence of numbers on the device is a direct indicator of a poor or missing ground loop.

The second method, using a homemade test lamp, involves touching one end of it with a phase terminal, and the second to zero. After the lamp lights up, the wire connected to zero must be moved to ground. Stable light will be a sign of the circuit's performance, and interruptions and dim light will become a bell about poor quality grounding. Absolutely extinct lamp - a sign of the absence or non-functioning "earth".

It is important to note that the presence of a system of protective shutdown of electricity can de-energize the room during the verification process. Such a phenomenon will indicate the operational state of the grounding circuit.

The above examples of grounding verification are quite simple and effective in use. However, it is always worth remembering that when performing any manipulations with the electric network, increased attention and responsibility are required.