Electrician's Licensing Practice Exam

What is the function of equipment bonding jumpers as defined by NEC?

1. To provide isolation from voltage

2. To ensure a proper grounding connection

3. To connect circuits for enhanced performance

4. To eliminate the need for grounding

The correct answer is: To ensure a proper grounding connection

The function of equipment bonding jumpers, as defined by the National Electrical Code (NEC), is to ensure a proper grounding connection. These jumpers play a critical role in establishing a low-resistance path for fault currents. They connect the non-current carrying conductive parts of electrical equipment to the grounding system, which helps in maintaining the safety of electrical installations. By providing a reliable grounding connection, bonding jumpers help prevent potential differences in voltage that can occur between different parts of the system. This is particularly important in case of faults, as it ensures that any fault current will have a clear path to ground, reducing the risk of electric shock or fire hazards. While isolation from voltage (which relates to safety) and circuit connections for performance are important in various contexts, they do not define the primary function of bonding jumpers. Similarly, eliminating the need for grounding contradicts the fundamental safety principles that bonding jumpers are designed to support.