Electrician's Licensing Practice Exam

Which of the following is considered a service ground?

1. Ground rod(s)

2. Ceramic well housing

3. Chain link fence post

4. Water pipe

The correct answer is: Water pipe

The service ground refers to the grounding system designed to protect electrical systems and ensure safety by providing a path for fault current to flow to the ground. Among the given options, a water pipe is considered a suitable service ground because it is often used as a grounding electrode. Water pipes, especially when they are made of metal and buried in the ground, can provide an effective path for grounding currents. In electrical installations, the grounding system needs to create a low-resistance path to the earth to facilitate the dissipation of fault currents. Water pipes meet this requirement, making them an important part of grounding systems in residential and commercial buildings. In contrast, the other options, while they may have some grounding characteristics, do not serve as effective service grounds in the context of electrical safety and installation standards. For example, ground rods are specifically used as grounding electrodes but are not classified under the option of a service ground in the same way as a water pipe. Ceramic well housing and chain link fence posts may not provide effective grounding paths, further clarifying why they do not meet the criteria in the same manner as a water pipe.