Grounding rods are also known as what?

Grounding rods are commonly referred to as grounding electrodes. The primary function of grounding electrodes is to establish a low-resistance path to the Earth, which helps to ensure safety by directing electrical faults safely into the ground. This is crucial for protecting both people and equipment from electrical hazards.

In electrical systems, grounding electrodes such as rods, plates, or grids provide a means to dissipate electrical energy into the Earth, reducing the risk of uncontrolled voltage spikes that can occur from lightning strikes or power surges. Grounding electrodes help stabilize the voltage levels in the system and prevent electrical shock or fire hazards by ensuring that any fault current has a direct path to the ground.

The other options do not accurately describe grounding rods. Grounding connectors may refer to specific connectors used to join grounding wires but don't encompass the broader concept of grounding systems. Earth rods is a term used informally but is less specific than grounding electrodes, which is the standardized terminology in electrical codes. Safety rods isn't a recognized term in electrical grounding practices.