What should grounding look like in a properly installed switch, receptacle, or lighting box?
Every switch or receptacle should have a grounding wire. Every metal box should have a grounding wire. All the ground wires should be connected together and connected to a grounding wire going back to the circuit breaker panel or fuse box. Any metal part that might accidentally be touched by a live wire-due to insulation failure, deterioration, or a loose wire-should be grounded. Metal boxes. Both the metal box and the switch, receptacle, or light fixture attached to the box must be grounded. It is good practice never to rely on the mounting screws to ground the switch, receptacle, or light fixture to the box. Plastic boxes. Plastic is mostly and insulator; the plastic box itself does not need to be grounded. The switch, receptacle, or light fixture attached to the box does need to be grounded. Here are three ways to do it correctly.
