What is the main benefit of bonding in electrical systems?

The main benefit of bonding in electrical systems is that it creates a low-resistance path, which is essential for preventing shock hazards. Bonding connects various conductive parts and establishes an electrical connection between them, ensuring that in the event of a fault, electricity has a safe path to ground rather than passing through a person or equipment, which could lead to electric shock or fire hazards.

This low-resistance path helps to facilitate the operation of overcurrent protective devices, such as fuses or circuit breakers, which then can quickly disconnect the power when there is a fault condition. By directing fault current safely away, bonding enhances the overall safety of electrical installations. While aspects like energy efficiency, maintenance ease, and aesthetic appeal are important in electrical installations, they are not the primary functions or benefits of bonding. The critical focus remains on safety through effective fault current management, making bonding a vital practice in grounding systems.