Which component is commonly used to provide grounding in a wiring device?

• A. Mounting strap
• B. Faceplate
• C. Terminal block
• D. Ground wire

Answer: (A)

Grounding in wiring devices relies on a dedicated grounding conductor, the ground wire, that is connected to the device’s grounding terminal and bonded to the electrical box and the building’s grounding system. This creates a low-impedance path for fault current so the protective device trips and the metal parts don’t stay energized. The mounting strap can contribute to grounding only if the metal box and strap are properly bonded, but it isn’t the primary grounding method. The faceplate is insulating and does not carry fault current, and a terminal block is simply a point to join conductors, not the standard grounding path for a typical device.