If ground connections show corrosion, what is the recommended action?

• A. Clean corrosion and re-tighten after de-energizing
• B. Replace the entire electrical system
• C. Ignore and continue
• D. Inspect and test the ground after cleaning, ensuring it is secure

Answer: (A)

Corrosion on ground connections degrades the electrical path, raising resistance and creating safety hazards such as heat, arcing, and shock risk. The best action is to de-energize the system, clean away the corrosion, and re-tighten the ground connection so the metal-to-metal contact is solid and low impedance. De-energizing keeps you safe while you work, cleaning restores a good conductive surface, and re-tightening ensures the ground path is secure and capable of carrying fault current as designed. After cleaning, it’s wise to inspect and test the ground to confirm continuity and a secure path, but addressing the corrosion by cleaning and re-tightening first is the priority.