Maadoitusjohtojen

Maadoitusjohtojen, also known as grounding conductors or earth conductors, are an essential part of electrical safety systems. Their primary function is to provide a low-resistance path for electrical current to flow to the earth in the event of a fault. This prevents dangerous voltages from building up on conductive parts of electrical equipment that are not normally intended to be energized.

In a properly grounded electrical system, the grounding conductor connects the non-current-carrying metallic parts of appliances, such as the metal casing of a washing machine or refrigerator, to the earth. If a live wire accidentally touches this metallic casing, the grounding conductor allows a large amount of current to flow, tripping a circuit breaker or blowing a fuse. This rapidly disconnects the power supply, preventing electric shock to anyone who might touch the faulty appliance.

The effectiveness of a grounding conductor depends on its low resistance. This is typically achieved through proper sizing of the conductor and a good connection to the earth itself, often via a grounding rod driven into the ground. Without a reliable ground connection, the grounding conductor would be unable to safely dissipate fault currents. Building codes and electrical standards specify the requirements for grounding conductors to ensure the safety of electrical installations.