Bonding and Grounding

Bonding, Grounding and the NEC
Presented by The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors
www.NACHI.org
The New Code

The 1999 and 2002 editions of the
NEC* have now clearly defined the separate and vitally important purposes of grounding and bonding in making safe electrical installations
*The National Electrical Code (NEC) is a registered trademark of the National Fire Protection Association, www.nfpa.org.
The New Code

Section 250-4 establishes new
performance requirements which clarify what grounding and bonding are required to accomplish
The New Code

Section 250-2 introduces and defines the new terms: Ground Fault Ground Fault Current Path Effective Ground Fault Current Path
The New Code

These new definitions are in
addition to the two important definitions in Article 100 which apply to Section 250-2
The New Code

These definitions are: Grounded - Connected to earth Bonded - The permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrically conductive path that ensures electrical continuity and the capacity to conduct safely any current likely to be imposed
The New Code

The importance of grounding
electrical equipment seems to be well understood The purpose and intent of bonding to create a low impedance ground fault return path seems to be less understood
The New Code

The importance of bonding is best
described in the following graphics which review how bonding performs in a typical circuit
A Typical Circuit
L O A D
100 of Overhead Distribution Line 25 of Service Drop 25 of Service Entrance Conductor 100 of Branch Circuit Conductors
A Typical Circuit
L O A D
Current flows...
Path of Current Flow Normal Operation

L O A D
From the transformer to our service

L O A D
Through the overcurrent device to our load

L O A D
Through the load returning to the service

L O A D
And back to the transformer.

L O A D
What determines the amount of current that will flow in this circuit?

L O A D
The total resistance or impedance in the circuit will determine the amount of current that will flow in the circuit.
Things You Can Count On

Ohms Law Works
We can change the code, or Hire a different contractor, or Use romex instead of EMT, but
E = I x R still works!
Overload and Short Circuit Conditions

L O A D
How is our circuit protected against overload and short circuit?
Overload and Short Circuit Conditions

15A Circuit Breaker
L O A D
The overcurrent device protects this circuit from both overload and short circuit.
Ground Fault Condition

So lets talk about a ground fault
condition Which certainly sounds like the one condition where grounding would be important and decide for ourselves whether Grounding provides protection for equipment or personnel under a ground fault condition
L O A D
What happens if the hot conductor comes into contact with our metal box?
L O A D
And our friend comes along and touches it? Is he in jeopardy?
L O A D
No not at all and why not?
L O A D
Because the transformer were looking at is not grounded so there is no path through the earth for current to return to the transformer.
L O A D
Yes, that was a trick question sorry about that but the intent was to make a point.
Things You Can Count On

No circuit no current Current does not flow unless there is a
continuous path from one side of the source of supply to the other Current cannot travel through the earth to return to a transformer unless the transformer is grounded
L O A D
So our friend in this situation is perfectly safe however
L O A D
What do we know about utility company transformers?
L O A D
Theyre grounded and, with this transformer grounded, our friend is in serious jeopardy.
L O A D
Because utility transformers are grounded, we need to do something to our equipment to keep our friend from being electrocuted.
L O A D
Can we protect our friend by grounding our metal equipment? Lets take a look.
L O A D
Grounding our equipment provides a second path for fault current.
L O A D
The first path is through our friend to earth and back to the transformer.
L O A D
The new second path is through our metal equipment to earth and back to the transformer.
Fault Current Path

We need to open a 15A Circuit Breaker
as quickly as possible. This will require a fault current of 60A to 75A (four to five times the rating of the breaker)
We can use Ohms Law to find out how

much current will flow on our new path
L O A D
The voltage is 120V. We need to know the resistance in this circuit to calculate current.
Fault Current Path

Assuming a minimum of 5 ohms
resistance through each grounding electrode, we know there is at least 10 ohms resistance in the fault path that we created by grounding our equipment
Fault Current Path

Therefore, using Ohms Law:
E = I x R Transposed to: I = E / R Where: I (current) = E (voltage) / R (resistance) And so, I = 120 / 10 = 12A
Fault Current Path
Only 12 Amps
Will 12 Amps trip our 15A circuit
breaker?
Absolutely not!
With Equipment Grounded
L O A D
So the overcurrent device does not open and we have fried our friend!
Conclusion
Grounding does not

protect equipment or personnel from a ground fault!
The Bonding Connection
L O A D
The vital connection left out of our discussion until now is the bonding of metal equipment to the service neutral.

Every piece of conductive metal
which is a part of our system or likely to become energized Must be connected together by an electrically continuous metal-tometal contact or by an equipment grounding conductor

These connections create an electrically
continuous, low resistance path from every part of our system back to the service equipment At the service, these connections terminate on the neutral bus creating an: Effective Ground Fault Current Path
L O A D
These bonding connections let us use the neutral as a return path for fault current.
L O A D
Bonding provides a third path for fault current to return to the source of supply.
Fault Current Path

We need to open a 15A circuit breaker
as quickly as possible. This will require a fault current of 60A to 75A (four to five times the rating of the breaker)
We can use Ohms Law to find out how

much current will flow on our new path
Fault Current Path

The resistance in this path includes
100 - #2 AL OH Distribution 25 - #4 AL Service Drop 25 - #2 CU Service Entrance 100 - #14 CU Branch Circuit Resistance to the point of fault .032 .013 .005 .307 .357 ohms

.357 ohms
L O A D
.3 ohms
The resistance from the point of fault through our metal equipment back to the neutral is assumed to be the same as the branch circuit wiring and 100 of #14 cu has a resistance of .3 ohms.

.357 ohms
.57 ohms
.3 ohms
L O A D
The total resistance in this path created by bonding is .714 ohms.
Fault Current Path

Therefore, using Ohms Law:
E = I x R Transposed to: I = E / R Where: I (current) = E (voltage) / R (resistance) And so, I = 120 / .714 = 168A
L O A D
The effective ground fault current path allows 168A of fault current to flow and forces the overcurrent device to open.
L O A D
This path does not rely on grounding and works even if our system is not grounded.
Conclusion
The overcurrent device protects against
ground fault conditions provided that Our circuits have been installed so that all conductive metals are bonded together and to the service neutral
In Review
Grounding is a connection to
earth intended to protect our electrical system from lightning and high voltage
In Review
The overcurrent device

protects our electrical system from overload and short circuit
In Review
The overcurrent device

protects our electrical system from a ground fault condition if ..
In Review
Proper bonding
Has created a permanent, electrically
continuous and low impedance path
Which allows fault current to return to

the neutral at the service
Wiring Methods Are Critical

Clearly, an effective ground-fault current
path must be created throughout our wiring system
This is accomplished through the proper

installation of a listed wiring method

The safety of our electrical system
relies on
The wiring method selected, and Its proper installation

A wiring method that has been
specifically designed as an equipment grounding conductor, and Engineered to assure a low impedance fault current path, is Clearly the best choice for a safe electrical installation

Bonding and Grounding

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Bonding, Grounding and the NEC

Presented by The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors

The New Code

The New Code

The New Code

The New Code

The New Code

The New Code

The New Code

Path of Current Flow Normal Operation

From the transformer to our service

Path of Current Flow Normal Operation

Through the overcurrent device to our load

Path of Current Flow Normal Operation

Through the load returning to the service

Path of Current Flow Normal Operation

And back to the transformer.

Path of Current Flow Normal Operation

Path of Current Flow Normal Operation

Things You Can Count On

Overload and Short Circuit Conditions

How is our circuit protected against overload and short circuit?

Overload and Short Circuit Conditions

Ground Fault Condition

Ground Fault Condition

Ground Fault Condition

And our friend comes along and touches it? Is he in jeopardy?

Ground Fault Condition

No not at all and why not?

Ground Fault Condition

Ground Fault Condition

Things You Can Count On

Ground Fault Condition

So our friend in this situation is perfectly safe however

Ground Fault Condition

What do we know about utility company transformers?

Ground Fault Condition

Ground Fault Condition

Ground Fault Condition

Ground Fault Condition

Grounding our equipment provides a second path for fault current.

Ground Fault Condition

Ground Fault Condition

Fault Current Path

We can use Ohms Law to find out how

Ground Fault Condition

Fault Current Path

Fault Current Path

Fault Current Path

With Equipment Grounded

Grounding does not

The Bonding Connection

The Bonding Connection

The Bonding Connection

The Bonding Connection

The Bonding Connection

Fault Current Path

We can use Ohms Law to find out how

Fault Current Path

The Bonding Connection

The Bonding Connection

The total resistance in this path created by bonding is .714 ohms.

Fault Current Path