The difference between grounding and bonding

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rlcemente

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In simple "lamens terms" please;

What is the difference between grounding and bonding;

Roberto Clemente

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[ December 08, 2005, 05:23 PM: Message edited by: charlie b ]
 
Re: The difference between grounding and bonding

This isn't precise, and it doesn't tell the whole story, but it should be in layman's terms.

"Grounding" has to do with connecting the system to planet Earth. It is done for several reasons. One is to give lightning an optional path to the Earth that does not involve going through the house. Not really likely to prevent damage, but it is part of the reason. Another reason relates to lightning striking nearby, but not at, your own house. It raises the potential of all the dirt in the area. You don't want there to be a difference between that potential and the reference point of the electrical system within the house.

"Bonding" has to do with connecting, to each other, all the metal parts that are not supposed to be carrying current during normal operations. The reason has to do with what happens if something fails, and causes a "hot" conductor to touch an external metal part. The bonding helps to create a low impedance path back to the source. This will force a large current to flow, which in turn will cause the breaker to trip. In other words, bonding is there to allow a breaker to trip and thereby to terminate a fault.

Is this what you were looking for, or do you have a more specific question?
 
Re: The difference between grounding and bonding

That is a hard question to answer, given that the CMPs(NEC code making panels) don't seem to know. Most of what the NEC calls grounding is really bonding.
Don
 
Re: The difference between grounding and bonding

I think Charlie explains it quite well. You can bond everything together but until you connect it to earth, it is not grounded.
 
Re: The difference between grounding and bonding

The difference is that grounding is performed to comply with Section 250.4(A)(1)&(2) and bonding is performed to comply with 250.4(A)(3),(4),&(5).
 
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