How should ungrounded conductors be treated in installations?

• A. They must be properly insulated and protected and not used for unintended purposes.
• B. They can be left exposed if they are not loaded.
• C. They should be connected to the equipment grounding conductor.
• D. They must be painted red to indicate ungrounded.

Answer: (A)

Live conductors must be insulated and protected to prevent accidental contact, arcing, or misuse. Keeping ungrounded conductors properly insulated provides a barrier against shock and damage and prevents them from being repurposed for unintended uses. They should not be left exposed or used for anything other than carrying current. The grounding conductor is for fault currents, not a normal current path, so connecting a live conductor to it would create a hazardous condition. Painting or color alone does not replace insulation and protection, which is the essential safety requirement.