If an outlet is at the end of a circuit, where does the bare wire connect?

In residential wiring, the grounding system is a crucial safety feature designed to prevent electrical shock and mitigate the risk of electrical fires. When an outlet is located at the end of a circuit, the bare wire, which is typically the ground wire, connects to the grounding screw in the outlet box. This connection ensures that any fault current will have a direct path to the ground, minimizing the risk of electric shock to anyone using devices plugged into the outlet.

Additionally, the option mentioning both the grounding screw in the outlet box and a wiring device may refer to the fact that the bare wire should ideally be connected to the ground terminal of the outlet itself. This promotes safety and ensures that the entire circuit is grounded properly.

It's essential for the grounding wire not to be connected to any other wires, such as a white wire (which is typically neutral) or a switch, as this could lead to dangerous cross-connections. The grounding wire should have its dedicated path to the ground to effectively protect users from electric shock.