Fully Insulated Fuse Test and Ground Device

A test and ground device for power distribution systems comprising:

• an electrically insulated housing with a bore that extends from an aperture at a front of the housing towards a rear of the housing;
• an electrical contact disposed at least partially within the bore;
• a current interrupter electrically connected between the contact and a testing ground lead;
• an electrically conductive connection disposed within the housing and coupled to the electrical contact and the current interrupter;
• and
• a grounding bore extending from a second aperture in the housing towards an interior of the housing and capable of receiving a permanent ground connection, wherein the grounding bore provides a point of electrical connection to the electrical contact.

A method of grounding and testing electrical equipment in a power distribution system comprising the steps of:

• providing a fuse test and ground device, said device comprising:
• an electrically insulated housing with a bore that extends from an aperture at a front of the housing towards a rear of the housing;
• an electrical contact disposed at least partially within the bore;
• a current interrupter electrically connected between the contact and a testing ground lead;
• an electrically conductive connection disposed within the housing and coupled to the electrical contact and the current interrupter;
• a grounding bore extending from a second aperture in the housing towards an interior of the housing and capable of receiving a ground connection, wherein the grounding bore provides a point of electrical connection to the electrical contact;
• and
• an annunciator proximate to the current interrupter, wherein the annunciator provides an indication when a current flows through the current interrupter;
• connecting the testing ground lead to ground;
• mating the bore, the aperture, and the contact to a bushing;
• determining if the annunciator indicates that current has flowed through the current interrupter;
• and
• inserting a grounding plug into the grounding bore and connecting the plug to the point of electrical connection based on the annunciator indicating that a current is not flowing through the current interrupter.