In the lampholder, which component is the live contact?

• A. The threaded portion that screws into the light fixture
• B. The bottom part that the bulb touches when screwed in
• C. The outer shell of the socket
• D. The top terminal

Answer: (D)

The live path in a lampholder is the connection that feeds the inner contact which touches the bulb’s center contact. In this design, that live path is on the top terminal, because it is the terminal that connects to the inner contact of the socket and supplies the bulb when it is screwed in. The outer shell serves as the neutral return, and the threaded portion and the bottom-facing contact are not the live feed in this arrangement. So the top terminal is the live contact.