What does bonding do in electrical systems?

In electrical systems, bonding refers to the practice of connecting conductive parts together to ensure they have the same electrical potential. This is critical for safety reasons, as it helps to eliminate voltage differences that could create shock hazards or create pathways for unintended electrical currents. By bonding metallic parts, the electrical system provides a safe route for fault currents to return to the ground, minimizing the risk of electric shock and reducing the likelihood of electrical fires.

When parts are bonded, if one part becomes energized due to insulation failure or other issues, the bonding ensures that the entire system can maintain a neutral potential. This also supports the effectiveness of protective devices like circuit breakers and fuses, which rely on fault current to operate and disconnect the circuit when necessary. Thus, bonding establishes a level of safety in the electrical environment, ensuring that all conductive materials are at the same electric potential.