What is the primary purpose of the system bonding jumper?

The primary purpose of the system bonding jumper is to bond the neutral to ground. This connection is essential for ensuring safety in electrical systems, as it establishes a reference point for the electrical system voltage and helps prevent potential differences between the grounding and neutral conductors. By bonding these two conductors together, it provides a path for fault currents to return to the source, thereby facilitating the operation of overcurrent protection devices like circuit breakers. This bonding is critical for effective fault clearing and minimizes the risk of electric shock.

Other options address different aspects of electrical systems but do not reflect the fundamental function of the system bonding jumper. Connecting separate grounding systems, managing electrical loads, or protecting against voltage spikes are important considerations in electrical installations, yet they do not define the specific role of the bonding jumper, which centers on the bond between neutral and ground for safety and performance.