What function do equipment grounds serve?

Equipment grounds serve the important function of connecting all noncurrent carrying metal parts of an electrical system to ground. This connection is crucial for safety, as it helps prevent electric shock hazards by ensuring that any stray electrical current can be safely directed away into the ground. By grounding these metal parts, if there is a fault in the system that causes them to become energized, the ground provides a low-resistance path for the electrical current to flow, tripping circuit protection devices like breakers or fuses and thereby reducing the risk of electric shock or fire.

The other options do not accurately describe the role of equipment grounds. Connecting current carrying parts would not improve safety and could lead to dangerous conditions. Isolating electrical systems is contrary to the purpose of grounding, as it should facilitate a safe pathway for fault currents rather than keeping systems separate. Increasing voltage levels is unrelated to grounding and could create hazardous situations. Overall, properly grounding noncurrent carrying metal parts is vital for maintaining electrical safety and system integrity.