Electrical bonding - Wikipedia

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Electrical bonding
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Electrical bonding is the practice of intentionally electrically connecting all exposed metallic items not designed
to carry electricity in a room or building as protection from electric shock. If a failure of electrical insulation
occurs, all bonded metal objects in the room will have substantially the same electrical potential, so that an
occupant of the room cannot touch two objects with significantly different potentials. Even if the connection to a
distant earth ground is lost, the occupant will be protected from dangerous potential differences.

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Explanation
How the earth protects
Equipotential bonding
Aircraft electrical bonding
See also
Notes and references

Explanation
In a building with electricity it is normal for safety reasons to connect all metal objects such as pipes together to
the mains earth to form an equipotential zone. This is done in the UK because many buildings are supplied with a
single phase supply cable where the neutral and earth conductors are combined. Close to the electricity meter
this conductor is divided into two, the earth terminal and the wire going to the neutral busbar in the consumer
unit. If the ground connection to the neutral is lost, all wiring and other objects tied to the neutral will be
energized at the line voltage. Examples of articles that may be bonded include metallic water piping systems, gas
piping, ducts for central heating and air conditioning systems, and exposed metal parts of buildings such as hand
rails, stairs, ladders, platforms and floors.
A person touching the un-earthed metal casing of an electrical device, while also in contact with a metal object
connected to remote earth, is exposed to an electric shock hazard if the device has a fault. If all metal objects are
connected, all the metal objects in the building will be at the same potential. It then will not be possible to get a
shock by touching two 'earthed' objects at once.
Bonding is particularly important for bathrooms, swimming pools and fountains. In pools and fountains, any
metallic object (other than conductors of the power circuit)over a certain size must be bonded to assure that all
conductors are at the same potential. Since it is buried in the ground, a pool can be a better ground than the
electric panel ground. With all the conducting elements bonded, it is less likely that electric current will find a
path through a swimmer. In concrete pools even the reinforcing bars of the concrete must be connected to the
bonding system to ensure no dangerous potential gradients are produced during a fault.

How the earth protects

In a system with a grounded (earthed) neutral, connecting all non-current-carrying metallic parts of equipment to
earth ground at the main service panel will ensure that current due to faults (such as a "hot" wire touching the

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frame or chassis of the device) will be diverted to earth. In a TN system where there is a direct connection from
the installation earth to the transformer neutral, earthing will allow the branch circuit over-current protection (a
fuse or circuit breaker) to detect the fault rapidly and interrupt the circuit.
In the case of a TT system where the impedance is high due to the lack of direct connection to the transformer
neutral, an RCD must be used to provide disconnection. RCDs are also used in other situations where rapid
disconnection of small earth faults (including a human touching a live wire by accident, or damage) is desired.

Equipotential bonding
Equipotential bonding involves joining together metalwork that is or may be earthed so that it is at the same
potential (i.e., voltage) everywhere. Such is commonly used under transformer banks by power companies and
under large computer installations. Exact rules for electrical installations vary by country, locality, or supplying
power company.
Equipotential bonding is done from the Service Panel consumer unit (also known as a fuse box, breaker box, or
distribution board) to incoming water and gas services. It is also done in bathrooms where all exposed metal that
leaves the bathroom including metal pipes and the earths of electrical circuits must be bonded together to ensure
that they are always at the same potential. Isolated metal objects, including metal fittings fed by plastic pipe, are
not required to be bonded.
In Australia and South Africa, a house's earth cables must be connected both to an earthing rod driven into the
ground and also to the plumbing or gas pipe. In Australia a house's earth cable must be connected to all
reinforcing mesh in any concrete under any bathroom and in any swimming pool.

Aircraft electrical bonding

In aircraft, electrical bonding prevents static electricity build-up that can interfere with radio and navigational
equipment. Bonding also provides lightning protection by allowing the current to pass through the airframe with
minimum arcing. Bonding prevents dangerous static discharges in aircraft fuel tanks and hoses. [1]

See also
Earthing system
Earth potential rise
Stray voltage
Bonding jumper

Notes and references

Aircraft hose electrical bonding[2]
1. Mechanic Support, "Aircraft hose and electrical bonding" (http://www.mechanicsupport.com
/hose_electrical_bonding.html)
2. http://www.mechanicsupport.com/hose_electrical_bonding.html

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Categories: Electric power distribution Electrical safety

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