CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202)Operational ProceduresMedium
A technician is installing a new desktop workstation in an older office that only has a two-prong (ungrounded) electrical outlet available. Which of the following is the SAFEST action for the technician to take?
- APlug the workstation into the two-prong outlet using a standard surge protector
- BHave a licensed electrician install a properly grounded three-prong outlet before connecting the workstation
- CConnect the workstation to a UPS, since the UPS provides grounding on its own
- DUse a plug adapter that removes the ground pin so the cord fits the outlet
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Have a licensed electrician install a properly grounded three-prong outlet before connecting the workstation
A proper electrical ground gives stray current a safe path to earth, protecting both equipment and personnel from shock hazards and reducing ESD risk. Only a licensed electrician installing a correctly grounded outlet resolves the underlying safety issue; adapters, surge protectors, and UPS units do not substitute for a true ground.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A surge protector filters voltage spikes but does not provide grounding if the outlet itself is ungrounded.
- C. A UPS conditions and backs up power but does not create an electrical ground where none exists.
- D. Cutting or bypassing the ground pin removes the safety path entirely and is a shock hazard.
Electrical Grounding Safety
Grounding provides a safe path for stray electrical current to travel to earth, protecting equipment and people from shock and fire hazards.
- Never remove or bypass a ground pin on a plug
- Ungrounded outlets should be corrected by a licensed electrician
- Surge protectors and UPS devices do not create grounding
Memory trick: No ground pin, no plan — call the electrician, not the scissors.