In residential electrical systems, grounding establishes a safe path for fault currents to flow to the ground electrode, while bonding ensures that all metal parts are at the same electrical potential, preventing voltage differences and potential shock hazards.
Grounding:
Purpose:
To provide a low-impedance path for fault currents to flow to the ground, allowing overcurrent protective devices (like circuit breakers or fuses) to trip quickly and safely, preventing electrical shock and damage.
How it works:
Grounding involves connecting the electrical system to the earth (ground) through a ground electrode (like a ground rod or concrete-encased electrode).
Examples:
The bare copper wire (equipment grounding conductor) in electrical wiring, and the connection to the ground rod or ground bus in the main panel.
NEC Requirements:
The National Electrical Code (NEC) outlines specific requirements for grounding, including the type of ground electrodes, grounding conductor size, and bonding requirements
