Safety with electricity: Earthing

If we look at a washing machine, we can see that it has three different wires:

• Brown - live wire

• Blue - neutral wire

• Green and yellow striped - earth wire

Washing machine wiring:

• Live and neutral wires provide potential difference for motor rotation.

• Earth wire connects to a metal washing machine case.

• Three wires form a cord plugged into mains electricity supply.

Earth wire importance in Washing Machines:

• Earth wire is crucial in preventing machine malfunctions.

• It completes the circuit, connecting the live wire to the ground, causing a short circuit.

• Without earth wire, the metal casing of the washing machine would become part of the circuit, causing an electrical shock.

• Therefore, earth wire is a vital safety feature on any electrical appliance.

Short circuit:

• usually caused by mistake, creating an extra low-resistance electrical pathway.

• Increased current can damage appliances and cause overheating, potentially leading to fires.

• Safety devices are used to stop current flow during short circuits.