What does it mean to "bond" electrical systems?

Bonding electrical systems refers to the practice of connecting various conductive parts and equipment together to ensure electrical continuity and safety. This process is crucial for the effective operation of electrical systems as it helps to prevent accidental electric shocks and reduces the risk of fire hazards.

By connecting conductive parts, such as metal enclosures or grounding electrodes, bonding ensures that any fault current has a safe path to ground. This allows protective devices like circuit breakers or fuses to operate correctly, which is essential in maintaining safety and preventing equipment damage.

Bonding is distinct from other practices such as connecting multiple circuits, which addresses different design requirements, or amplifying signals, which pertains to signal processing and communication. Likewise, while insulating wires is important for preventing interference and ensuring safety, it does not involve the process of bonding, which fundamentally focuses on creating a unified electrical ground potential throughout the system.