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plan de terre / plan de masse 

English translation: earth plane / ground plane

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:plan de terre / plan de masse 
English translation:earth plane / ground plane
Entered by: Tony M

10:10 Jun 30, 2015
French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Electronics / Elect Eng / PCB design
French term or phrase: plan de terre / plan de masse 
Le plan de terre qui doit se trouver sous les borniers .., doit être séparé du plan de masse ... par une bande par une bande sans cuivre etc.

I know this has been discussed before and it generally refers to the ground plane.

What is the difference between them?

Thanks!
Sandra & Kenneth Grossman
Israel
Local time: 19:41
earth plane / ground plane
Explanation:
This only really works in EN-GB, where 'earth' and 'ground' have different meanings, unlike in EN-US!

'terre' = 'earth' implies to a greater or less extent the external protective electrical earthing

'masse' on the other hand equates to 'ground' (or older 'chassis'), i.e. the 'zero reference' local to the specific device — which may or may not be connected to 'actual' (protective) earth; usually, in systems involving sensitive signals circuitry, the two will be connected at a single point.

Another way of referring to it, which might help with the EN-US issue, but is totally dependent on the wider context (i.e. what equipment this is!), is to talk about 'electrical earth' and 'signal earth'.
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 18:41
Grading comment
Thanks, Tony! Your explanations were very helpful!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1earth plane / ground plane
Tony M
Summary of reference entries provided
Masse vs. terre
Anca Florescu-Mitchell

Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
earth plane / ground plane


Explanation:
This only really works in EN-GB, where 'earth' and 'ground' have different meanings, unlike in EN-US!

'terre' = 'earth' implies to a greater or less extent the external protective electrical earthing

'masse' on the other hand equates to 'ground' (or older 'chassis'), i.e. the 'zero reference' local to the specific device — which may or may not be connected to 'actual' (protective) earth; usually, in systems involving sensitive signals circuitry, the two will be connected at a single point.

Another way of referring to it, which might help with the EN-US issue, but is totally dependent on the wider context (i.e. what equipment this is!), is to talk about 'electrical earth' and 'signal earth'.

Tony M
France
Local time: 18:41
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 2116
Grading comment
Thanks, Tony! Your explanations were very helpful!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Terry Richards: The masse can also be called the technical earth/ground
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Terry! Within a defined local context, yes; however, in more general terms, e.g. an electrical installation, that could conceivably cause confusion.
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Reference comments


15 mins
Reference: Masse vs. terre

Reference information:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masse_(électricité)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2015-06-30 14:06:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://www.regime-de-neutre.fr/

Plus clairement spécifié que la masse désigne une carcasse métallique qui peut être reliée soit au neutre, soit à la terre.

Anca Florescu-Mitchell
France
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 14
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