What is the grounding function of the Brazilian power plug?

The grounding function of the Brazilian power plug can effectively guide the fault current or excess current in the equipment to the ground by providing a low-impedance current path for the electrical equipment, thereby preventing the live shell of the electrical equipment from causing electric shock to the user, protecting the user's life safety, and ensuring the stability of the electrical equipment and power system. For any electrical equipment, once a fault occurs, grounding can not only prevent the damage of the electrical equipment caused by abnormal current, but also effectively prevent the user from electric shock accidents. Therefore, the grounding design must meet strict standards and specifications to ensure the safety and stability of the electrical system.

In Brazil, the grounding system of electrical equipment and plugs must comply with the NBR 14136 standard. This standard specifies the design requirements of the Brazilian power plug, especially the setting of the grounding pin, to ensure that the plug can be safely and reliably connected to the grounding slot of the socket and provide effective grounding protection.

The shell of modern electrical equipment is usually made of metal. If the wires or components inside the equipment fail (such as the insulation layer is damaged, the wires touch the metal shell), the equipment shell may be live. If there is no grounding protection, once the user touches the equipment shell, an electric shock accident may occur, even causing fatal injuries.

When a device fails, the ground pin is connected to the electrical device through the grounding slot in the power socket, providing a low-impedance path for excess current, which is directed directly to the ground and avoids flowing through the human body. By connecting the device housing to the ground, grounding effectively draws fault current out of the device, ensuring that the device has no live housing.

Brazil has strict regulations on the design and installation of electrical equipment, especially regarding the requirements for grounding systems. The NBR 14136 standard is a plug and socket standard specifically developed for the Brazilian market to ensure that all electrical equipment meets safety requirements. According to this standard, all Brazilian power plugs must have a grounding function, and the location and shape of the grounding hole must meet certain standards to ensure that the grounding part of the plug and the socket can be effectively connected. The standard grounding design avoids illegal modification and improper use of the plug, ensuring that each plug and socket can provide the necessary grounding protection in the event of an electrical fault.

The Brazilian power plug adopts a three-hole design, including two round holes for the power pins and a larger grounding hole. The grounding hole is usually located at the bottom of the plug to ensure accurate grounding when connected to the grounding slot in the socket. Compared to the power pin, the grounding pin is larger in size, and its shape and position are different from the other two pins, avoiding the possibility of incorrect insertion. This design ensures the priority use of the grounding function, so that it can first contact the grounding slot when inserted into the socket, thereby quickly conducting the grounding current. In addition to complying with Brazil's NBR 14136 standard, Brazil's power plug design also refers to international electrical safety specifications, making Brazil's plug and socket system compatible with other international markets and meeting the electrical safety requirements of many countries.