Earth conductor

Also known as Protective conductor, CPC, Circuit protective conductor

An earth conductor is the protective earthing conductor that gives fault current a path to earth so protective devices can disconnect the circuit.

An earth conductor is the conductor in a circuit or equipment connection that forms the protective earth path. In formal UK electrical paperwork it is more often called a protective conductor, or a circuit protective conductor (CPC) when the document is referring to a particular circuit. Its job is to give fault current a protective path towards earth so the circuit's protective device, such as a circuit-breaker or fuse, can disconnect the supply. In home energy work, earth-conductor wording may appear in consumer-unit schedules, electrical certificates, EV chargepoint paperwork, inverter or heat-pump connection documents and handover packs.