Understanding the Two Essential Types of Grounding: PE vs. FE
In electrical engineering, “grounding” is a fundamental concept but it performs two different principal functions.
It is important not to get confused
- Protective Earth (PE) and
- Functional Earth (FE).
Protective Earth (PE)
PE stands for people (safety)
Identification: Usually has a green & yellow conductor.
Primary function: Discharge dangerous fault currents securely to ground. This action activates protection mechanisms such as circuit breakers & fuses.
Purpose: The top priority is to prioritize safety. The fundamental purpose of PE is to save lives by preventing electric shock & lowering fire danger.
Functional Earth (FE)
FE stands for function (performance).
Identification: Typically a metallic braid (or) shield.
Primary Function: Provides a reference point to reduce EMI, noise, and increase EMC stability.
Purpose: The main purpose is to ensure performance and reliability. The purpose of FE is to make sure that sensitive electronic equipment operates correctly and dependably by providing a “clean” signal reference.
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