A motor winding is touching the inside of the motor housing. This could result in:

• A. Overheating and reduced efficiency
• B. Noise
• C. Shock may occur to personnel
• D. Fire

Answer: (C)

When windings contact the motor housing, the housing can become energized because the insulation between the live windings and the metal frame is breached. The housing is normally grounded to protect people, so energizing it creates a direct path for current to ground. If someone touches the housing, they can receive an electric shock. This is the immediate and primary safety hazard.

Overheating or reduced efficiency could happen if a fault leads to abnormal current, but the most direct danger in this scenario is the potential for shock. Noise is not a typical result of windings touching the housing, and a fire would be a concern only if arcing or sustained fault current occurs, which is less immediate than the shock risk. If you encounter this, de-energize the equipment and address the insulation and grounding immediately.