Bonded gounded systems tie into the ground at the panel to provide a path to earth, if a ground fault happens.
Here are a few background articles that relate to safety concerns for ground return via utility ground rods at customer distribution transformers and along power lines every quarter mile that were posted on the Mike Holt forum:
In case you’re not familiar with systems that rely entirely on earth return, which may be interesting as a reference, or so-called single-wire earth return (SWER), here’s a link to a wikipedia article on it’s use.
PS, how about taking up your concerns with your utility public relations office so you don’t lose sleep.
The article I linked at Mike Holt. And the discussion there.
I object to this not being on topic.
I’m not a certified inspector yet but I’m part way there.
(I have completed 7 or so of the courses/certificates so far)
If nobody knows why we bond the neutral at the service to earth ground that’s okay.
But asking the question, it’s the type of questions I asked in college classes, and it was always appreciated by the professors.
Opens up other concepts.
I didn’t use the forum for the other courses I completed so far, just thought I’d try it out, because I had this question in my mind,
If I’m abusing the forum by asking it, I apologize, maybe I should read the forum guidelines before posting anything.
LOL
Sorry.
Just tell me I broke the rules and I’ll ask a moderator to delete the thread.
Good luck on finding one and having that done… 
I’m very confident that most of us, especially the ones that posted in this thread, know exactly why.
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I reacted to an inappropriate question, and I apologize for that.
Regarded grounded versus bonded systems I do understand the difference, but when you bond the neutral you have a “neutral grounded system”.
It’s a bit different than having an unbonded neutral-------" grounded system".
(You can bond all the grounds then ground those at the service entrance without grounding the neutral.) Some countries do that(Norway as in the OP link)
The ground-neutral bond “is it necessary really?” is my question.
If so why?
I know it is by code, so maybe the question is inappropriate, I’m just asking on theory.
Perhaps it’s because old houses don’t have a ground conductor on the branch circuits so you have to do it just to make sure all buildings are safe?
And because it’s very rare for return earth current to do things like shock swimmers…
(I found the article linked in the OP from another article about stray ground current hurting people and farm animals)
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The neutral is bonded in order to provide an effective ground fault path to trip the breaker.
A circuit grounding conductor has nothing to due with a ground rod or system grounding.
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If I’m abusing the forum I’ll just stop asking questions like this and end the thread.
I sincerely believed it was an acceptable question/thread topic when I posted it.
I could move it to Mike Holt Forum if there is one or IEEE or somewhere…
It’s not directly germane to interNACHI standards. But it can be illustrative of why the codes those are based on exist.
I think I figured it out. Earlier post.
The reason the neutral is bonded is because it’s the only safety mechanism in older houses with two conductors to the branch circuits?
In a modern new construction house theoretically you might be able to have a safer system without grounding the neutral(safer for ground current shocks) but this is the best way to do it with grandfathered homes.
And ground current shocks are rare.
???
Just tell me to nix the thread if this is improper use of the forum.
And we can let it die.
Jeez dude. I just made a comment that moderators here are far and few between. Get a grip on things…
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I have PPE.
I have a grip.
Either this is a valid use of the forum or not.
Is it a verboten question?
Valid? yes…finding a moderator to delete anything…good luck.
You pay their salary. They’ll tell you whatever you want to hear. It’s a little different on this forum. You’ll be asking questions from folks that actually do work and don’t read it to you from a book.
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Okay then I will accept the statements otherwise as hazing.
You ought to take penicillin and get plenty of rest. While you’re resting ask yourself what good would an earth ground for each circuit be if it was not bonded to the “neutral”?
I love Better Call Saul, even though the series did a disservice to the EHS issue.
If allowed I’ll explain the physics of EHS and the biology, but I’ll be accused of straying off purpose of this forum.
My understanding the purpose of the forum is for inspectors to branstorm diffucult inspections.
You see an electrical panel you’ve never seen before you post a question, and other inspectors look at it and one who knows it tells you what they know about it.
That’s great,
But every unit I’ve completed so far, I was asked after the test, did I use the forum? Was it helpful?
I didn’t need the forum, still don’t. Not to pass the tests I passed.
I’m an ace student.
I can finish the rest without using the forum.
Electricity interests me, and this question in particular.
I’ve been on automotive fora before, we share torque specs head bolt tightening patterns and everything we know.
The only fora I haven’t enjoyed were appliance and HVAC.
The HVAC guys pick on DIYers.
So let me get used to this being like that, and you’ll enjoy what I have to add to the conversation.
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Same value as a lightening rod.
Here’s your diploma, now get lost!
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