Which term describes a reliable conductor to ensure the required electrical conductivity between metal parts that must be electrically connected?

• A. Bonding Conductor or Jumper
• B. Grounding Electrode Conductor
• C. Equipment Grounding Conductor
• D. Neutral Conductor

Answer: (A)

The essential idea is equipotential bonding: a bonding conductor or jumper is specifically used to create a reliable conductive link between metal parts that must stay at the same electrical potential. By interconnecting metal enclosures, ordering equipment, piping, and other conductive parts, it prevents voltage differences that could shock someone or cause arcing if the parts were touched or became faulted together. This is separate from grounding pathways that tie the system to earth or the safety function of equipment grounding conductors, which provide a fault-current return path for safety rather than simply linking metal parts. Grounding electrode conductors connect to the earth, and equipment grounding conductors connect equipment to the grounding system, not to maintain inter-part connectivity. The neutral conductor carries current in the circuit and is not intended for bonding metal parts. Therefore, the term that describes a reliable conductor to ensure required conductivity between metal parts that must be electrically connected is bonding conductor or jumper.