What simple method verifies equipment grounding?

• A. Ground fault detector test
• B. Visual inspection
• C. Megohm meter test
• D. Hipot test

Answer: (B)

Verifying equipment grounding with a simple method means checking the physical connection itself to confirm there is a continuous path from the equipment to the building grounding system. The quickest and most reliable way to do this is a visual inspection: look for a properly connected grounding conductor (the green or bare wire) attached to the equipment’s chassis, ensure all connections are tight and free of corrosion, and confirm that metal enclosures are bonded where required. This approach ensures the grounding path exists and is physically intact without needing to power anything up or use specialized equipment.

This simple check is helpful because it catches obvious, safety-critical issues like a missing ground pin, loose or damaged bonding, or coatings or paint that prevent a solid bond. Other tests focus on different aspects: a ground fault detector test assesses the response of protective devices to ground faults rather than the actual grounding path, a megohm meter test measures insulation resistance rather than the continuity of the grounding conductor, and a hipot test evaluates dielectric strength rather than verifying a grounding path.