03-03 Earthing in an AC system


Earth is part of the AC circuit

Man shocked at home.png

The ground is part of the AC circuit.
The human body is a #parallel path for electric current.
Current takes the "Path of Least Resistance."

Current flow through human body

Estimated effect of AC current:

Current Effect
1mA Barely perceptible
10mA Pain
16mA Max current and average man can grasp and "let go"
20mA Paralysis of respiratory muscles
100mA Ventricular fibrillation
20,000mA Typical circuit breaker trip rating, 20A
Most of the electrical resistance of the human body comes from dry skin.
Wet skin has about 1000x less electrical resistance.

Use an RCD to protect against electric shock.


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