Electrical wiring device with flexible terminal for eliminating connection to ground

An electrical wiring device providing selectable referencing to earth ground, comprising:

• a housing comprising a first terminal for attachment to HOT, a second terminal for attachment to LOAD, and a flexible terminal comprising a first leg mounted to the electrical wiring device and a second leg connected to the first leg via a flexible joint, wherein the relative distance between the first leg and the second leg is adjustable between an extended position and a retracted position by flexing the flexible joint, the flexible joint being biased in the extended position, wherein the second leg defines an opening dimensioned to receive a conductor of a neutral wire such that a force applied through insertion of the neutral wire presses the flexible terminal through a predetermined path toward the retracted position;
• and
• a load control circuit disposed within the housing and receiving a line input from the first terminal and a reference input, the reference input being referenced to the electric potential of the flexible terminal.

A method for selecting an electrical reference of an electrical wiring device, comprising the steps of:

• adjusting a relative distance between a first leg and a second leg of a flexible terminal, the first leg and second leg being joined by a flexible joint, so as to isolate the second leg from a grounding circuit when the electrical wiring device is installed in a wall box, wherein a load control circuit disposed within a housing of the electrical wiring device is electrically referenced to an electric potential of the flexible terminal;
• and
• establishing contact between a neutral wire and the flexible terminal such that the load control circuit is electrically referenced to the neutral wire.

An electrical wiring device permitting selective reference to earth ground comprising:

• a flexible terminal comprising a first leg and second leg being joined by a flexible joint such that a relative distance between the first leg and the second leg is adjustable to permit selective isolation from or contact with a grounding circuit when the electrical wiring device is installed in a wall box;
• and
• a load control circuit disposed within a housing of the electrical wiring device, the load control circuit electrically referenced to an electric potential of the flexible terminal.