What does "bonding" mean in electrical systems?

Bonding in electrical systems refers to the practice of connecting various conductive parts of an electrical installation together to ensure they all maintain the same electrical potential. This is crucial for safety, as it minimizes the risk of electrical shock and helps prevent issues such as voltage differences that can lead to equipment malfunction, fire hazards, or personal injury.

When different parts of an electrical system, such as metal enclosures, equipment frames, or grounding electrodes, are bonded, it helps create a path for fault currents to flow safely to ground in the event of a fault. This prevents any part of the system from becoming energized in a way that could pose a danger to people or property.

The other choices relate to various aspects of electrical work, but they do not accurately reflect the concept of bonding. For instance, connecting circuits in series pertains to how circuits are arranged in terms of flow and load, while insulating conductors focuses on preventing accidental contact and short circuits. Grounding all wiring addresses safety in terms of dissipating fault currents, but bonding specifically deals with ensuring uniform electrical potential across the system's conductive components.