Bonding vs Grounding

Bonding is the lasting joining of metallic pieces to form a conducting path which ensures safe electrical continuity. Bonding is generally done as protection from electrical shocks. Any intentional or accidental connection between an electrical circuit or instrument and the earth is known as Grounding. Grounding ensures that all metal parts of an electrical circuit that an individual might contact are connected to the earth, thus ensuring zero voltage.

Two or many more conductive objects are required for a Bonding connection, which is usually done with the help of a conductor. Grounding, which is also known as Earthing, is a particular type of bonding when conductive objects are connected to earth using a good conductor. These conductors are usually wires or rods. Grounding doesn’t impact the regular running of the electrical system.

Bonding provides the safety in the case of fault current. If a person touches the electrical device’s metal during the fault condition and at the same time be touching a metal object connected to earth, they are bound to get an electrical shock. But if all metal objects are connected together, they end up being safe because they will be at same potential thus completely removing the scope for an electrical shock.

Bonding and grounding in institutional, commercial, and industrial buildings is very important. The machines’ circuits should be provided with a return path starting from the machines to the source of power to work properly. Besides, non-current-carrying but metallic components should be electrically interconnected to negate the voltage potential between them.

Take for instance a situation where paint is being applied to a steel plate using a spray application system with the help of an acetone carrier. In this situation, proper grounding and bonding becomes a must.  When the paint passes by the nozzle of spray gun, it will create a static charge because of which acetone ends up causing flammable vapors to generate into the painting area.  To avoid this spray gun is bonded to the metal plate, which in turn is bonded to the ground to avoid ignition of the vapors.

Bonding alone does not manage to protect anything. But if one of the boxes is grounded, electrical energy stock up is not possible. If the box that’s grounded is bonded to a second box, the electrical potential of the second box is at zero.

People often end up confusing grounding and bonding. Be it grounding connection or bonding connection, the objective in wiring a house is to have no e of metal boxes or other conductive materials next to the wires since it becomes electrically unviable (hot). The best bet is to have these grounded so they have no potential for an electrical shock when an unsuspecting individual touches them.

SUMMARY:
1.Bonding is the lasting joining of metallic pieces to form a conducting path while grounding is any intentional or accidental connection between an electrical circuit or instrument and the earth
2.Bonding ensures safe electrical continuity while grounding ensures that all metal parts of an electrical circuit that an individual might contact are connected to the earth, thus ensuring zero voltage.
3.Bonding is achieved by using a wire while grounding is achieved by using a rod.
4.Bonding provides the safety during fault current and grounding to earth has no real impact on the working of the electrical system.
5.Bonding alone does not manage to protect anything but if one of the boxes is grounded, electrical energy stock up is not possible.

For more information : Work safely with flammable liquids.

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