I don’t see how it implies this. It compares the two ways a receptacle can be wired; only one is correct. False ground is just that, it defeats the purpose of a ground, it was never allowed or correct.
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Me too.
Nice graphic. Some years ago, I had a master electrician ask me why I had reported bootleg grounds as bad…sigh…
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While most graphics I submitted don’t need explanation this is one that needs a paragraph of explanation to supplement the graphic. A quick Google search will provide the verbiage needed to include in a report.
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Excellent graphic Randy. Thank you for your contributions here.
I use gut feeling when I suspect a bootlegged ground.
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The neutral is the “grounded conductor”, so it is a ground, assuming that the panel has an electrode GEC (typically a water pipe, ground rod, etc.), and if not there back at the utility company’s transformer but…
…it is NOT considered an EGC according to NEC-250
I am from mid-1963. Am I a hybrid or just approaching retirement age?
Electricity doesn’t care about your definition of “true” or “false” it simply wants a complete circuit. The neutral is as true a ground as anything bonded to ground, hence the term “grounded conductor.” The point is that it defeats the purpose of a separate, independent ground and gives the illusion of safety that is not there. You might as well have a two slot outlet (which in most cases is what it is replacing).
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Synonymous- even the tester shown in the picture defines the reading FG as False ground or bootleg ground
You would think that someone would come up with a better name than false ground. And no I don’t have one. 
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Comon’ you are the electrical geek and you ain’t got a better word?
I am in southern Missouri, how about “Hillbilly Hack”
Lets call it a Florida ground.
I have seen many “Hillbilly Hacks” in my area. But then again, I’m in a true “Hillbilly” region. 
First thing is not to use the word ground. Ground is pretty meaningless when you’re looking for the correct terminology which is equipment grounding conductor. Since you’ve asked I’ll go with pseudo equipment grounding conductor.
There’s no room on the graphic for all that.
Nice. 
You guys are getting carried away, step away from your keyboards before it’s too late 
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Very true. I have an outlet in my home that my SureTest shows as a false ground. I removed the outlet to confirm and it has no false ground. It’s wired correctly and it is located within 10 feet of the SE / electrical panel. This is the only panel we have and the neutral and ground bus bar are bonded, hence the bootleg/false ground reading.
Oops, sorry! I posted before reading all the posts
From the SureTest manual:
Note that if the SureTest is within 15-20 feet of the main panel, the unit will indicate a false ground condition on a properly wired circuit due to its close proximity to the proper ground-neutral bond in the main panel.
Read more: https://manuals.plus/ideal/61-164-suretest-circuit-analyzer-manual#ixzz7hTLQKvhD
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That article is full of inaccuracies.
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