False Ground

Specific Inspection Topics Electrical Inspections
1

Inspected this 1960’s home today and thought that the home had been rewired with grounded circuits. The 3-prong receptacles tested OK (grounded) with my 3 lite tester. When I opened the distribution panel, I did not see any grounding conductors, all 2 wire. Removed a receptacle and here is what I found. My question is would a sure-test indicate this false ground? What would this set up do to a appliance with a ground (3-prong plug) if current traveled back and energized the appliance. Looks to me like a real safety hazard. What do you guy/gals think?

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2

Yes, a SureTest would have indicated this condition.

3

Hi Steve,

Yes my Suretest 61-165 will show false/bootleg grounds but I believe that the cheaper ones do not, it would be worth researching the ideal website to check.

Any appliance that has a three prong plug is designed to work with a gronded conductor. Some electronic components especially computer equipment does not work well on 2 wire circuits. and yes there are angers associated with connecting the Neutral to the ground at any location other than the service panel.

Regards

Gerry

4

This find today has convinced me to invest in a Sure-test. Thanks for your help.

5

Gerry meant to say groundING conductor. . . Oh, and I’m sure he meant Danger rather than anger. . :wink:

Startin’ Friday a little early eh Gerry :smiley:

6

Yeah what Jeff says :mrgreen:

I have been writing a class all week and I’m getting punchy now I am going for a brew

Regards

Gerry

7

An off the shelf VOM will show the boot leg ground

Cost about $25.00 from radio shack

If you have the $$ spend it on the big boys

rlb

8

Gerry – Warm pint, no doubt.
:stuck_out_tongue: :stuck_out_tongue:

9

Jae, no, in fact they kicked me out of England because I don’t like warm ale, and I am sure as hell not drinking the tea :wink:

I spent way too long in Belgium, Holland and Germany sinking tall frosty lagers

I’m just going to raid the fridge and see if I have any Stella left :wink:

Regards

Gerry

10

Please people

Do we all have to spend $$ to find this problem or can we find it cheap and dirty way with out doing a lot of work liking taking the plug apart?

rlb

11

i don’t think i’m going to pull duplex outlets out of the wall. if you get a ground reading on you little tester, and theres not ground wire in the panel… guess what?:wink: :cool:

12

I would say yes. But that’s just me :slight_smile:

13

Jay

What if one could show you how to check for this problem is about 5 seconds??

Will someone else - Jeff Poe etc come in with the answer to the problem???

The ac voltage differenct between the ground and the neutral - Hi Z ???

rlb

14

Edgar Allan Pope will be along shortly…

I want a sure test just cuz it’s cool…sorta the same reason Jeff is Mr. Wireless now…

I don’t think I’ll be taking receptacles apart any time soon…the lack of ground in the panel would have been a red flag eh?

15

Tony

I feel the answer is comming — stand by

rlb

16

almost done #4 Tony, how you doing?

17

if it’s easier than doing what i’m going to do anyway (check outlets with 3 light, and open panel) i’m all ears…or eyes:roll:

18

Not if the wiring was with BX. . .

19

You could measure the resistance between the grounding and grounded conductors (that’s what the SureTest does).

20

What should the reading be?