geerdet

Geerdet is a term used to describe an object that is connected to the earth or to a common reference potential, primarily in electrical engineering. In Dutch usage, the standard term for this state is geaard; geerdet is more commonly found in German-language texts or as a loanword in technical writing. The concept refers to connecting conductors and metallic enclosures to an earth electrode or earth conductor to form a low-impedance path for fault currents and to establish a stable voltage reference.

The main purposes of grounding are safety and proper operation of protective devices: it reduces the risk of electric shock by ensuring exposed conductive parts do not reach hazardous voltages during faults, and it provides a reference potential for measuring instruments and protective devices to operate correctly. A grounding system typically includes a protective earth conductor, earth electrodes (rods, plates), and bonding connections that tie together metal parts.

Earth resistance is a key parameter and varies with soil, installation, and fault current requirements. In practice, the aim is to achieve a reasonably low earth impedance to allow fault currents to quickly trip protective devices. Standards such as IEC 60364 and national electrical codes specify earthing requirements and acceptable values.

Beyond power systems, chassis grounding is also used in electronics and audio to reduce interference and ensure user safety. Geerdet, as a state, describes equipment that has been connected to earth, rather than a specific component itself.