Editing Ground and neutral (section)

==Grounding==
{{Main|Earthing system}}

A '''ground''' or '''earth''' conductor, or '''CPC (circuit protective conductor)''', in an [[alternating current|AC]] power system is a conductor that provides a low-[[electrical impedance|impedance]] path to the Earth to prevent hazardous voltages from appearing on equipment (high voltage spikes).{{Citation needed|date=November 2018|reason=The explanation of how this is achieved is not explained here, nor even in the National Electrical Code, so a solid technical reference is needed.}} The terms {{em|ground}} and {{em|earth}} are used synonymously in this section; {{em|ground}} is more common in North American English, and {{em|earth}} or the more technical term {{em|CPC}} is more common in British English. Under normal conditions, a ground conductor does not carry current. Ground conductors are essential for automatically cutting power in the event of ground faults.

[[International Electrotechnical Commission]] standard [[IEC 60364]] codifies methods of installing neutral and ground conductors in a building. These [[earthing systems]] arrangements are designated with letter symbols.

In North American and European practice, suitably designed mains-powered portable equipment is permitted to have merely two conductors in their attachment [[AC power plugs and sockets|plug]] ({{not a typo|line}} and neutral), foregoing use of the available earth connection. Such appliances are known in the UK as [[Appliance_classes#Class_II|{{em|Class-II}}]] or {{em|double-insulated}}.