The bonding conductor for optical fiber cables and equipment shall not be smaller than 14 AWG and shall not be required to exceed which size?

• A. 6 AWG
• B. 8 AWG
• C. 12 AWG
• D. 6 AWG

Answer: (D)

Bonding a fiber optic system creates a low-impedance path to ground for metallic parts so that all equipment stays at the same electrical potential during a fault. The code sets a minimum size for that bonding conductor at 14 AWG copper to ensure a reliable bonding path. It also limits how large the conductor needs to be for this purpose, saying it shall not be required to exceed 6 AWG. In practice, you may use any size from 14 AWG up to 6 AWG for the bonding jumper, with 6 AWG being the practical upper limit the code requires you to meet. This keeps the bonding path effective without needing unnecessarily heavy conductors.