Is the ground circuit part of the electrical system that delivers voltage to the load?

Is the ground circuit part of the electrical system that delivers voltage to the load?

• A. Yes
• B. Sometimes
• C. No
• D. Cannot determine

Answer: (C)

Grounding is about safety, not power delivery. The path that actually powers a load is the hot conductor from the source to the load and the return path (neutral) that completes the circuit. The equipment grounding conductor is there to provide a path for fault current to earth so protective devices trip quickly, not to carry normal load current. In normal operation, the ground conducts little to no current; it only conducts during faults. Even when neutral is bonded to ground at the service, load current still travels hot-to-neutral, not hot-to-ground.

Grounding is about safety, not power delivery. The path that actually powers a load is the hot conductor from the source to the load and the return path (neutral) that completes the circuit. The equipment grounding conductor is there to provide a path for fault current to earth so protective devices trip quickly, not to carry normal load current. In normal operation, the ground conducts little to no current; it only conducts during faults. Even when neutral is bonded to ground at the service, load current still travels hot-to-neutral, not hot-to-ground.