What is the role of a bonding conductor or jumper?

The bonding conductor or jumper plays a critical role in ensuring electrical safety and integrity within electrical systems. Its primary function is to create a low-resistance path for electrical current between different metal parts, which can include equipment, enclosures, or grounding systems. By doing so, it helps to eliminate potential voltage differences that could lead to electrical shock or equipment damage.

When metal parts are bonded together, any fault current that may occur during a malfunction or short circuit event is safely directed back to the ground. This connection enhances the overall safety of the installation, as it helps to ensure that protective devices (such as circuit breakers) operate correctly and quickly to disconnect the supply, minimizing the risk of fire or injury.

While enhancing electrical insulation, serving as a fuse, and reducing electrical resistance have their own technical significance within electrical systems, they are not the primary purposes of a bonding conductor or jumper. Bonding focuses on connection and safety rather than insulation properties or circuit protection. Therefore, the key role lies in ensuring proper electrical connectivity between metal components in a safe manner.