A grounded cable is caused by a metallic shielding or other conductor making direct contact with a grounded surface such as the earth.
The cable can become grounded with the earth as a result of a faulty connection, damage to the cables insulation or when the cable is not properly terminated at both ends and allows the current to flow through the shield instead of through the signal carrying or voltage carrying conductor within the cable.
A ground wire or ground cable is an electrical wire that is often bare or green in color that is connected to other ground wires and then eventually is connected to a ground rod that extends into the ground.
Electrical code requirements making ground wiring standard were phased in during the 1960s, so most modern homes have grounded outlets and electrical panels throughout.
Ground faults are often the result of electrical wire or other wire breakdown.
Damp and wet and dusty locations require special care and wiring in some cases to prevent degradation of the wire and breakdown of the insulation.
Cables and electrical wires that are not properly "grounded when they should be" can have high electric potential when compared to the utility ground in a house.
Grounding the cable system to the same ground used by the utility minimizes voltage that could exist between them.
Grounding an electrical or other circuit provides a backup path for any excess electricity to safely exit using the neutral and copper wires in case of wiring issues.
Earthing, physically connects a circuit to the earth via an underground conductor rod to reduce the risk of shock.