If you prefer to always view the website in English, please click here.

Why earthing matters

A working earth connection is essential to guarantee something as valuable as the safety of people, since its installation prevents the electricity flow from an electrical device to whoever is using it. And although this is the main factor, it isn't the only one.

Earthing connections, also called ground or grounding connections, link the plug of each electrical appliance with the ground, so that if any kind of electricity is discharged, or if there is a discharge derived from the atmosphere such as lightning, the harmful energy flows towards the ground and is diverted, so that it doesn't come into contact with people.

Therefore, earthing connections protect people from electric shocks, but they are also decisive for taking care of installations and circuits. They also optimise the quality of electrical signals and reduce electromagnetic noise. These are sufficient benefits to consider them essential, don't you think?

"They protect us from discharges, take care of facilities and optimise the quality of signals."

The key is their conductivity

Earth connections are more conductive than the human body. This means that in the event of an electric shock, for example caused by a frayed or damaged cable, it is easier for the electrical current to travel from the socket to earth via cables. But in the absence of an earthing installation, the possibility of an accident causing physical damage would be high.

In fact, do you know what happens to a body if it receives an electric shock? At moderate intensities, there is muscle stiffness and respiratory failure, but at higher intensities there is a very high risk of electrocution, cardiac arrest and serious burns. Faced with these types of risks, it is clear that caution is the best solution.

 

Identifying the earth wire in the cable is easy

They are easily distinguishable as they are green and yellow. This colour code is established by the wiring standard to facilitate the identification of each type of wire. For example, the blue wires correspond to the neutral conductor and the phase wire is usually brown, black or grey.

Earth wires are connected to tiny metal pins on the sides of sockets in modern installations. Both cables usually end in a rod, usually copper or steel, buried at the base of the building.

In reality, earthing is everywhere, present in almost every major facility in a building. For example, plumbing installations, boilers, gas, heating, lifting devices, electrical sockets, TV and FM antennas, wall reinforcement, concrete supports and even lightning rods.

"They have two cables in green and yellow and are connected to sockets in modern facilities."

The parts they are comprised of

An earth connection installation comprises a series of elements, with which we are not usually familiar, but which, even without knowing it, are present in our daily lives. Check them out:

  • Ground spike. The metal bar driven into the ground.
  • Electrode. Metal meshes or rings that are not insulated.
  • Connecting line. This is the conductor that connects to each electrode.
  • Earthing terminals. They join the connecting line with the earth conductors.
  • Earth conductors. The installation points are joined to the connecting line.
  • Earth. It is essential to have the type of ground capable of diverting the harmful energy generated.

 

Can protection be increased?

Yes. The solution is to install a differential switch. In other words, it is an electromagnetic device which forms part of the home’s electrical panel and which reacts by cutting connections when it detects some kind of diversion of energy from the installation.

When the differential switch is activated in response to a discharge or leak, it is advisable to disconnect the electrical appliances and then plug them back in separately, in order to detect whether any of them is the source of the problem and needs to be repaired. 

"It is advisable to disconnect electrical appliances if there has been any electricity discharge."

Trust a licensed electrician

What happens if a building does not have an earthing installation?

Although it is currently a mandatory installation, as established by the Low Voltage Electro-technical Regulation (REBT), it may not exist in older homes that require refurbishment.

In these cases, it is advisable that certified professionals carry out a full inspection to repair the electrical circuit and the installation of sockets. Once the repair is completed, the authorised technician will certify it through the Electrical Bulletin.

It must be kept in mind that, although electrical appliances work perfectly, without earthing there is a real danger that is better avoided.

And anyway, who wants to take risks when they can enjoy their home with total peace of mind? 

Comparison of Electricity and Gas Tariffs

You don't need to adapt to Endesa's tariffs because they adapt to you. If you go to our catalogue you can compare the different tariffs for yourself. Or if you prefer, you can answer a few questions and we will take care of comparing all the different electricity and gas tariffs and then make a customised recommendation.

Do you want to see all our offers?

Spend a minute to find the product which best adapts to you:

{{firstStep.title}}

We are finding the right energy for you...

We are finding the right energy for you...

advise icon go to the advise Facebook icon go to Facebook Twitter icon go to Twitter Youtube icon go to Youtube Messenger icon go to Messenger Linkedin icon go to Linkedin Instagram icon go to Instagram Shared Link icon Go to the shared link Checkmark Success icon Checkmark Success down arrow icon down arrow Previous Go to previous Next Go to the next close icon close add icon add up arrow icon up arrow oblique arrow icon look obliquely Arrow down icon Arrow down search engine icon search search engine icon search share icon share filter icon filter email icon send mail email icon email phone icon phone fax icon fac print icon print play icon play user icon go to the user section error icon an error has occurred info icon information thumb up icon like thumb up icon like thumb down icon don't like thumb down icon don't like clock icon Clock Lamp icon Lamp List icon List Map icon Go to the map Phone icon Phone Emergency icon Emergency Pause icon Pause Play icon Play Logout icon Sign off Phone icon Phone
go back icon go back in navigation number 50 icon go to product Tempo Happy 50 Horas calendar icon go to product Tempo Happy Día companies icon go to the business segment gas icon go to gas product catalog rising sun icon go to Tempo Verde-Renewable Energy product home icon go to the household segment 24 hours icon go to One Luz product electricity icon go to Luz's product catalog electricity and gas icon go to the Luz + Gas product catalog moon icon go to product One night light monkey wrench icon go to breakdowns and repairs sun icon go to Tempo Solar product clock icon go to Tempo Happy products 2 hour clock icon go to Tempo Happy 2 Hours product 24 hours icon go to product One Luz number 50 icon go to product Tempo Happy 50 Hours Medium Voltage power line See product catalog with electricity consumption from € 36,000 to € 360,000 / year High Voltage power line See catalog of products with electricity consumption more than € 360,000 / year company icon go to the business segment calendar icon go to product Tempo Happy Day Property management firms icon go to the Property management firms DarkSite icon DarkSite icon light bulb icon See product catalog with electricity consumption less than € 6,000 / year electricity and gas icon go to the Electricity+ Gas Products catalog electricity icon go to the electrical products catalog email icon email contact fax icon fax contact Low Pressure gas icon see catalog of gas products with consumption of less than € 6,000 / year High Pressure gas icon see catalog of gas products with consumption from € 6,000 to € 240,000 / year Medium Pressure gas icon see catalog of gas products with consumption of more than € 240,000 / year gas icon go to gas product catalog Enel icon go to the enel website heater icon heater maintenance service heater maintenance icon go to maintenance service OKGas Heater home icon go to the household segment pressure cooker icon pressure cooker monkey wrench icon go to breakdowns and repairs Medium Voltage power line icon see catalog of electricity products with consumption from € 6,000 to € 36,000 / year moon icon go to product One Night Light sphere icon go to personal website phone icon telephone contact rising sun icon go to Tempo Verde-Renewable Energy product solar panel icon go to photovoltaic solar energy clock icon go to Tempo Happy products black handyman icon with thumb down selected the reaction "I don't like it" little hand icon with thumb down select the reaction "I don't like it" black hand icon with thumb up selected the "like" reaction little hand icon with thumb up select the "like" reaction
Añadir otro equipo eléctrico Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Eliminar equipo eléctrico Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Aspiradora Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Horno Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Lavadora Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Lavavajillas Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Microondas Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Plancha Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Punto de recarga vehículo eléctrico Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Radiador eléctrico Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Secadora Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Split Aire Acondicionado Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Termo Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Tostador Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Vitrocerámica Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Power edit Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Map marker Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit.