3 ms·
> the actual ground is really not that attractive to household electricity, mostly just to lightning I assume that's because it doesn't form a complete circuit
by TimTheTinker 4y ago
> the actual ground is really not that attractive to household electricity, mostly just to lightning
I assume that's because it doesn't form a complete circuit with the electrical substation your power is coming from -- though some power is delivered, perhaps does due to capacitance between the ground and the distribution lines.
Note it would be completely different if your power service used single-wire earth return (SWER)[0].
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-wire_earth_return https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-wire_earth_return
- mindslight 4y agoThe circuit is not back to the substation, but rather your local transformer. There is likely a grounding rod at the pole the transformer is on, and one grounding rod at each of the premises served by the transformer. It's just that resistance of the earth, especially dry earth, is quite high compared to wires.