The green wire. The earth wire only carries current when there is an electrical fault. The earth works as a low resistance pathway for dangerous fault currents to flow. The main switchboard contains an earth wire connected to a pin or rod in the ground.
Most appliances (except class 2) and electrical fittings need to have an earth wire which ensures that if a fault occurs, a breaker will trip.
The earth should be 230 volts to phase and 0 volts to neutral.
The earth wire is color coded green or ‘green/yellow’.
The earth terminal is typically indicated by an earth symbol which is three horizontal lines shaped like an upside down triangle. (ASNZS:3000:2007 – section 3).
