Which statement describes bonding metal parts to maintain equipotential?

Which statement describes bonding metal parts to maintain equipotential?

• A. A bonding jumper connects metal parts to earth.
• B. A bonding jumper is used to bond the water piping to the ground.
• C. A bonding jumper connects metal parts to maintain equipotential.
• D. A bonding jumper carries fault current.

Answer: (C)

Equipotential bonding keeps exposed metal parts at the same electrical potential by tying them together with a bonding jumper. This shared potential means a fault that energizes one part won’t create a dangerous voltage difference between other nearby metal parts that someone might touch. The bonding jumper’s job is to connect metal parts to each other (and often to the system grounding conductor) so they act as a single conductor in terms of voltage, not primarily to push current into the earth. Grounding to earth is a related but separate function; bonding is about keeping metal parts at equal potential to reduce shock risk.

Equipotential bonding keeps exposed metal parts at the same electrical potential by tying them together with a bonding jumper. This shared potential means a fault that energizes one part won’t create a dangerous voltage difference between other nearby metal parts that someone might touch. The bonding jumper’s job is to connect metal parts to each other (and often to the system grounding conductor) so they act as a single conductor in terms of voltage, not primarily to push current into the earth. Grounding to earth is a related but separate function; bonding is about keeping metal parts at equal potential to reduce shock risk.