What happens if the live wire is connected to the earth wire?

If a live wire touches the earth wire, you get a spark and the circuit breakers blow.

How does electricity flow from live to neutral?

The neutral wire completes the circuit, giving a return path for the current. Similarly, when the current flows in the live wire, it flows out the neutral. At any given time, whatever current flows through the live wire, an equal amount (*note 2) flows in the opposite direction through the neutral wire.

Why would a large current flow in the live and neutral wires?

The fuse contains a thin wire that will melt if the current gets too high. If there is a fault that causes the casing of the device to become live, a large current will flow through the live wire and low-resistance earth wire. This high current will cause the fuse to melt.

Why does current not flow through ground?

The key point is that the current flows from one point of the circuit, through ground, then back into the circuit. With only one connection to ground there is no circuit for the current to flow through. It can’t flow “to” ground, because there is nowhere for it to flow to.

Does current flow in neutral wire?

Normal circuit currents flow only in the neutral, and the protective earth conductor bonds all equipment cases to earth to intercept any leakage current due to insulation failure. The neutral conductor is connected to earth ground at the point of supply, and equipment cases are connected to the neutral.

Does current flow back to the source through earth?

Electricity always returns to the source of the power supply (a transformer or substation). When electrical current cannot flow through a neutral conductor, due to some type of damage or defect in the circuit, more current will use a path through the earth to return to the power supply.

What does it mean if current is flowing through an earthing wire?

If current is flowing through an earthing (or grounding) wire, this means that thTe hot (or live) wire, or something connected to the live wire is touching the casing. The casing, for safety purposes, is connected to earth/ground through an earthing/grounding wire so that the current will go there and not through a person and injure or kill them.

What happens when the earth wire touches the Live Wire?

The idea of the the earth wire is that if somehow the live wire touches the case of the gadget the electrcity flows to earth through the earth wire (and with enough current to blow a fuse) rather than through you. Most of the time there is no current flowing in the ground wire and so it is very close to zero volts.

Does current ever flow through the Earth?

Current never ever ever ever flows to earth. It only ever flows through earth. Earth is just another wire – albeit a planet sized one. Electrons have to flow from one side of the power source back to the other. They can never flow out and never return.

Why can’t current flow through a single ground wire?

With only one connection to ground there is no circuit for the current to flow through. It can’t flow to ground, because there is nowhere for it to flow. Earthing is used to protect you from an electric shock.