A wiring adapter is provided which controls the shear point for a wiring system in a traffic control box and other electrical panels. The wiring adapter includes a bottom segment which is securely mounted in the control box. Incoming wires to the control box are connected to the bottom segment. The top segment of the wiring adapter includes connections for wires running from the wiring adapter to the power or control elements in the control box. The wiring adapter uses a quick release retention mechanism to secure the top segment to the bottom segment. When a triggering event occurs, the quick release mechanism separates the top segment from the bottom segment to ensure that the shear point for the wiring system occurs at the wiring adapter.