In an ungrounded system, how is the grounded conductor handled?

In an ungrounded system, how is the grounded conductor handled?

• A. It is not required to be routed to the service disconnect
• B. It must be bonded to the service disconnecting means enclosure
• C. It must be routed to the meter only
• D. It can be connected anywhere in the system

Answer: (B)

In an ungrounded system, the grounded conductor must be bonded to the service disconnecting means enclosure. This is critical for safety and system integrity. Bonding the grounded conductor to the service disconnect ensures that in the event of a fault or failure, there is a low-resistance path for electrical current to flow, which helps protect equipment and personnel from electrical shock hazards. This practice also enhances the system's ability to clear a fault condition, allowing overcurrent protective devices like circuit breakers or fuses to operate effectively. By establishing a secure connection at the service disconnect, it helps maintain system stability and ensures that all conductors have a consistent potential with respect to ground, which is particularly important in ungrounded systems where there is no direct connection to earth ground to mitigate fault conditions. The importance of this bonding cannot be overstated as it plays a crucial role in maintaining safety standards as outlined in electrical codes. This is why option B is the correct approach to handling the grounded conductor in an ungrounded system.

In an ungrounded system, the grounded conductor must be bonded to the service disconnecting means enclosure. This is critical for safety and system integrity. Bonding the grounded conductor to the service disconnect ensures that in the event of a fault or failure, there is a low-resistance path for electrical current to flow, which helps protect equipment and personnel from electrical shock hazards.

This practice also enhances the system's ability to clear a fault condition, allowing overcurrent protective devices like circuit breakers or fuses to operate effectively. By establishing a secure connection at the service disconnect, it helps maintain system stability and ensures that all conductors have a consistent potential with respect to ground, which is particularly important in ungrounded systems where there is no direct connection to earth ground to mitigate fault conditions.

The importance of this bonding cannot be overstated as it plays a crucial role in maintaining safety standards as outlined in electrical codes. This is why option B is the correct approach to handling the grounded conductor in an ungrounded system.