How many connections to ground must all electrical equipment, such as transformers, have at a minimum?

The requirement for electrical equipment, including transformers, to have a minimum of two connections to ground is rooted in safety and reliability practices. Having multiple ground connections helps mitigate risk by ensuring that if one ground connection fails, the other still provides a pathway for fault currents to safely dissipate into the earth. This redundancy is particularly crucial in preventing equipment damage and personnel hazards related to electrical faults.

Additionally, two grounding connections can reduce the potential for electric shock by maintaining a lower impedance path to ground, which is essential in fault conditions. Grounding not only protects the equipment but also enhances overall system stability and safety. While some smaller equipment may only require one grounding connection under certain conditions, the standard practice for larger and more complex systems like transformers emphasizes the importance of having that second ground connection to serve as a fail-safe.