Earth device, plug-in breaker and distribution board

A safety plug for use with a grounding apparatus of a distribution device having a functional element, wherein the functional element defines a front face comprising a plurality of connecting points extending outwardly from the functional element and wherein the grounding apparatus is positioned substantially outward of the connecting points of the functional element, the safety plug comprising:

• a contact tongue for making contact with an electrical cable connected to the functional element of the distribution device;
• an overvoltage protection device connected to the contact tongue, the overvoltage protection device having a grounding electrode with an attachment in the form of a rod through which an overvoltage current is dissipated;
• and
• an electrically conductive fitting in electrical contact with the grounding electrode of the overvoltage protection device for connecting the safety plug to the grounding apparatus, the fitting comprising
• an insulation-displacement terminal for clamping the fining to the attachment provided on the grounding electrode;
• and
• an attachment part for attaching the fitting to the grounding apparatus substantially outward of the connecting points of the functional element.

A distribution device comprising:

• an elongated retaining apparatus;
• at least one functional element held in the retaining apparatus, each functional element having longitudinal end sections and an elongated contact section with connecting points for connecting incoming and outgoing electrical cables wherein the functional element defines a front face comprising a plurality of connecting points extending outwardly from the functional element;
• at least one grounding apparatus associated with the at least one functional element, the grounding apparatus having a grounding rail arranged substantially outward of the connecting points of the functional element and parallel to the elongated contact section of the associated functional element and the grounding apparatus having holding parts on opposed ends of the grounding rail for receiving the longitudinal end sections of the functional element;
• and
• at least one safety plug associated with the at least one grounding apparatus, the safety plug having a contact tongue extending in the direction of the functional element for connecting the safety plug to the grounding rail to make contact with the electrical cables.