For a communications system, the bonding conductor must not be smaller than which gauge copper?

• A. 12 AWG
• B. 14 AWG
• C. 16 AWG
• D. 18 AWG

Answer: (B)

Bonding conductors for a communications system are there to keep all connected metal parts at the same electrical potential and to provide a reliable low-impedance path for fault currents and stray voltages. Because of that, there is a minimum size required for the copper bonding conductor to ensure it can carry any fault current without excessive impedance.

The smallest copper bonding conductor that meets this requirement is 14 AWG. Using a smaller conductor would have higher resistance and impedance, which could allow voltage differences to persist between bonded parts during faults or transients. A larger conductor would still be acceptable, but the question asks for the minimum size, so 14 AWG is the correct limit. The smaller options do not meet the minimum, while a larger size would satisfy the requirement but isn’t the minimum.