Bootleg Ground

[John Allingham]

Here's an academic question. I know there are better ways (GFCI, etc) but is a bootleg ground safer than no ground at all. Why, why not.

[Larry D. Kage]

The grounded conductor is a current carrying conductor. If you connect the grounding conductor to it, it can energize anything that is or can be connected to the grounding conductor.

[John Allingham]

Originally Posted by lkage

The grounded conductor is a current carrying conductor. If you connect the grounding conductor to it, it can energize anything that is or can be connected to the grounding conductor.

So why is it done? Not just to fool home inspectors I hope.

[Ted Allen]

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load...2724449.html?8

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by jallingham

So why is it done? Not just to fool home inspectors I hope.

Probably just not knowing any better but I'm sure fooling HI's has been thought of.

[Greg Fretwell]

Bad "trick".
It can really trick you into killing yourself. Think about this.
What happens when you have a polarity reversal up stream and someone hooks up a bootleg ground?
You hooked the white to the ground, polarity is reversed, what voltage did you just put on the case of that fridge? Hope you don't touch the stove or sink while you have the fridge handle in your hand.
That bad part is your 3 light tester will say everything is fine.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by jallingham

Here's an academic question. I know there are better ways (GFCI, etc) but is a bootleg ground safer than no ground at all. Why, why not.

Repair or replace immediatly.
Life is to short do it once and do it right.
Roy Cooke sr

[brian winkle]

Originally Posted by Greg Fretwell

Bad "trick".
It can really trick you into killing yourself. Think about this.
What happens when you have a polarity reversal up stream and someone hooks up a bootleg ground?
You hooked the white to the ground, polarity is reversed, what voltage did you just put on the case of that fridge? Hope you don't touch the stove or sink while you have the fridge handle in your hand.
That bad part is your 3 light tester will say everything is fine.

Greg, don't forget about the upstream open neutral situation which will cause voltage to rise on the neutral thru the connected load(s), also energizing any 3 prong appliance cabinets.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

I thought a bootleg ground was an added grounding conductor rather than a grounded conductor.

Or gounding the receptacle to a metal box, isn't that a bootleg ground?

What about adding a third grounding conductor that runs back to a grounding bus bar? That's actually a true ground isn't it?

[ccbrands1]

If your electrical panel is grounded to plumbing, then couldn't you attatch a separate ground wire from an outlet straight to the plumbing.

Would this not give the same affect?

Legal?

Safe?

[mmorgan]

You are not supposed to ground electrical systems using plumbing. You bond the plumbing so that it does not become energized, but you don't use plumbing as a "ground rod." So, no, you should not run a wire from the ground screw of a receptacle to any copper plumbing piping.

[Patrick Bolliger]

Originally Posted by mmorgan

You are not supposed to ground electrical systems using plumbing. You bond the plumbing so that it does not become energized, but you don't use plumbing as a "ground rod." So, no, you should not run a wire from the ground screw of a receptacle to any copper plumbing piping.

Depends on where you live and the jurisdiction. In Chicago that is very common... Cold water pipes are "GEC's"...Yep check with the local jurisdiction.
One near by suburb does not use grounding rods!!

Paul A. has posted a great "grounding" article . Earth ground around the world and who uses what system.. Read that and then pull your hair out...

[Greg Fretwell]

The idea of using a cold water pipe dates back to the days before plastic pipe when a cold water pipe was soldered copper or threaded steel, all the way back to the main on the street. These days it would be rare to have a solid metal pipe without some kind of water filter, softener or simply a section of plastic pipe. It is just not a relaible ground these days.

[ccbrands1]

Originally Posted by Greg Fretwell

The idea of using a cold water pipe dates back to the days before plastic pipe when a cold water pipe was soldered copper or threaded steel, all the way back to the main on the street. These days it would be rare to have a solid metal pipe without some kind of water filter, softener or simply a section of plastic pipe. It is just not a relaible ground these days.

So if you were 100% sure you were conductive material all the way to the main service line, which happens to be copper, would the method of grounding a single receptacle to the plumbing be considered ok?
As long as your jurisdiction says it's ok to ground the panel the same.?

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by ccbrands1

So if you were 100% sure you were conductive material all the way to the main service line, which happens to be copper, would the method of grounding a single receptacle to the plumbing be considered ok?
As long as your jurisdiction says it's ok to ground the panel the same.?

I guess you are not listening NO go back to source of supply .
I think you know just about enough about electricity to get into trouble.
You should hire an electrician to do the job correctly

Roy Cooke Sr