Originally Posted By: rmoore This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
1954 home I did the other day had 6 receptacles on the same wall, 3 in the kitchen, 3 in the adjoining dining area, all test false ground (thank you Suretest). Panel was on the other side of the home. 3 of these were GFCI?s (2 in kitchen, 1 in the dining area). I popped the cover plate off one of the GFCI?s and, sure enough, there was a bare wire jumped from the side neutral terminal to the grounding terminal. No problem as far as the inspection and report goes?safety concern, prompt repair, licensed Sparky, etc, etc.
However, since then I?ve been trying to get it clear in my head what the actual effect of a bootleg ground is or could be. Obviously, the outlet lacks proper grounding, but?
Am I right in thinking that if you plugged a 3-prong appliance into a regular outlet wired this way and then touched the metallic housing (while it was on) and a grounded faucet with the other hand, you could put yourself in series and receive a shock at a portion (half?) of the voltage?
In a GFCI wired this way (assuming it was from the line side) wouldn?t the GFCI sense an imbalance and trip just by touching the above 3-prong turned on appliance?
-- Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: rmoore This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
?Really can’t think of anything good about it.??
Jerry?me neither! The thing is that I used to think these were no worse than a ?regularly? ungrounded 3-hole outlet. Definitely in need of repair but, other than the ability to fool a 3-light tester, not worse. This was the first time I had seen a GFCI wired this way and it got me to pondering harder about possible current paths and scenarios. I believe we?re talking the same thing with ?neutral path? and ?series?. It?s that possibility that now makes me think bootlegs can be, or are, more hazardous than just having an open ground.
-- Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: jmyers This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Bob,
One could certainly agree with that statement if you were plugging a three prong plug into a three prong open ground receptacle. Otherwise, a two prong plug would not need the third prong anyway, in which case it would be a safe installation.
Originally Posted By: rmoore This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Joe…
It's probably just semantics but I gotta go with Robert on that. An appliance with a two prong plug may be a safe use of such a receptacle but not a safe installation.
Getting back to three prongers (new term  ) and the bootleg GFCI...anyone else think it would trip by touching the chassis? It's useless information but sometimes I just have to know these things.
-- Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: roconnor This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Rich … That bootleg ground on a GFCI receptacle is a potential hazard because you could get a shock that would not be detected.
A GFCI receptacle works by detecting a current difference between the hot and neutral (hot to chassis current, or hot to ground current). If you get a shock by completing a circuit between the hot and neutral, the GFCI will not trip because there isn't a hot-neutral current difference. The same amount of current will flow from the hot, through you, and then to the neutral.
With the bootleg ground you could touch something hot and the chassis, and essentially complete a circuit between hot and neutral ... which would give you a shock without tripping the GFCI because there is no hot-neutral current difference.
I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would add a bootleg ground to a GFCI receptacle ... as it basically changes a safe installation to a hazardous one. I guess the old saying "never underestimate Harry Homeowners ability to create a hazardous situation" applies ... 
-- Robert O'Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee
I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong
