Red Seal Electrician Practice
Safety and work practicesQuestion 606 of 1506

A crew fits a temporary ground or shorting wire across a de-energized load. What extra protection does this give if someone closes the disconnect by mistake?

  1. The wire makes a short circuit that trips the overcurrent device.
  2. The wire holds the voltage at the load until the work is done.
  3. The wire stops the source from producing any voltage at all.
  4. The wire keeps the disconnect switch from being damaged by arcing.
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Correct answer: The wire makes a short circuit that trips the overcurrent device.

The short circuit trips the breaker or fuse and shuts power off again, so workers at the load stay safe.

Source: Lessons in Electric Circuits I: DC (Kuphaldt), 3.5: Safe Practices

Practice safety and work practices

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026