Bonding and Ground Straps: What Are Their Differences?

Everyday, we are exposed to various electrical devices that have the potential to cause our bodies harm. As electric current tends to flow toward the ground, seeking the easiest route to travel, electrical equipment in operation can pose a hazard if handled without proper insulation, potential management, or grounding measures. In the case of a power surge, grounding or earthing systems help insulate equipment like circuit breakers, allowing electricity to run directly towards the ground. Additionally, exposed metal items often need intentional electrical connections to prevent shocks. Without such precautions, it could be fatal for an individual to handle such materials or touch certain systems as the human body serves as an excellent electrical conductor. In other circumstances, current can also move through other electrical equipment, damaging or burning various parts of the system. When adding or altering electrical wiring or adjusting any electrical assembly, parts like bonding and grounding straps must first be taken into consideration for safety purposes.

Although individuals may often equate bonding and the use of grounding straps, they are not the same. While their job functions are similar in nature, there is an essential difference between them which comes down to their differing roles and capabilities in terms of protecting a system or assembly from the detrimental effects of volatile electricity. As such, we will look at the bonding and grounding process in detail, alongside their differences.

Bonding

Bonding is the process of attaching all the exposed metal items in a room or a building that are not designed for carrying electricity to protect people from electric shock when interacting with them. It is often used where multiple electrical devices with conductive surfaces are installed close together, like in a kitchen or bathroom. Even if the earthing connection is lost, the room's occupant will be safe with bonded metals since there will be no electrical buildup between two machines. Bonding is typically established through an equipotential method, that of which is when metalwork is electrically connected. Bonding within electrical equipment is a way for workers to ensure their safety. For example, when two pieces of machinery are connected, it creates an opportunity for a shock if they are not protected by bonding wires that serve as insulation between them, and bonding wires provide protection against anyone who may come into contact with the equipment.

Ground Straps

Grounding in electrical systems is often overlooked, yet plays a vital role in our everyday lives. Removing this essential safety measure can cause significant problems with appliances and extension cords that are not grounded properly, potentially leading to serious injury. In addition, when metal cabinets or cases of electrical equipment become energized due to insulation failure, they can also pose an electrical hazard. For safety and to avoid accidents, any metallic part of an electrical component that could be energized due to insulation failure is connected with a grounding strap embedded in the earth or grounding system beforehand. Ground straps are a simple way to ensure that all metal parts are at the same electrical potential. To achieve this, you can attach one end of the ground strap from the electrical system to the earth once all other metal components have been bonded together. In other words, using this technique, you can ensure that once all metal parts are connected and grounded together, they will be at similar electric potentials.

In the circumstance of a short circuit, using ground straps helps to protect not only the person interacting with the device, but also other machines in close proximity from the potential damage caused by an overload of current. They also provide safe routes for current to flow to the ground, rather than letting current flow to other devices, potentially causing a series of shortages, fires, and electrical failures.

Conclusion

The proper grounding and bonding of electronics in homes, business, and various industries is crucial. To ensure the proper function of electronic systems, one must use high-quality electronic parts from trusted manufacturers. If you are looking for top-quality hardware parts for procurement, Hardware Domain is your immediate solution. Owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, Hardware Domain is a reliable distributor partner for NSN parts, aviation parts, electronic components, and much more. Moreover, we provide customers with access to an expansive inventory of over 2 billion new, used, obsolete and hard-to-find products, those of which can be procured with rapid lead times and cost savings. For additional inquiries, call or email us at your earliest convenience, and one of our experts from the team will be available to assist you 24/7x365.