Which statement about grounding clamps is true?

• A. Grounding clamps must be sized to meet or exceed the current carrying capacity of the cable.
• B. Grounding clamps must be installed before any equipment is energized.
• C. Grounding clamps must be painted bright orange.
• D. Grounding clamps must be used only on high-voltage systems.

Answer: (D)

Grounding clamps create a safe, low-impedance path to earth so stored energy can be discharged and personnel are protected from shock or arcing during work on or near electrical equipment. The best practice is to connect the grounding path before any equipment is energized, ensuring a proper ground is established from the start of the task and reducing the risk of voltage coming onto the work area while you’re still setting up. This approach aligns with how crews control hazardous potentials and protect workers during maintenance or testing.

Grounding clamps must be sized and rated to carry the expected fault current and to be compatible with the conductor size, so the connection remains solid under fault conditions. Color coding and standard appearance can vary, and clamps are used on a range of voltage levels, not exclusively on high-voltage systems.