Oklahoma Electrical Practice Exam

When there are 6 current carrying wires in a conduit, how is the bonding wire counted?

1. It is counted in the adjustment fit factor

2. It is counted as one of the wires

3. It is not counted in the adjustment fit factor

4. It does not need to be counted

The correct answer is: It is not counted in the adjustment fit factor

In scenarios involving the number of current-carrying conductors in a conduit, bonding wires serve a particular purpose related to electrical safety and system integrity. The bonding wire, which is typically used to connect metal parts and provide an effective ground path, is not considered a current-carrying conductor in terms of the calculations for conduit fill or adjustment factors. When determining the adjustment factors, the focus is exclusively on the number of current-carrying conductors that actually carry current under normal operating conditions. This is why the bonding wire is excluded from those calculations; it does not carry load current like the other conductors. Therefore, even in a conduit containing six current-carrying wires, the bonding wire would not add to this total, emphasizing a fundamental safety principle without affecting the derating or adjustment needs of the current-carrying conductors within the conduit. Thus, acknowledging the bonding wire separately maintains clarity in electrical calculations and ensures that only those wires carrying operational current are included, which enables accurate assessments of heating and capacity in electrical installations.