False Ground

[Steven Brewster]

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?

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Yes, a SureTest would have indicated this condition.

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by Steven Brewster

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?

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

[Steven Brewster]

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

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by gbeaumont

Any appliance that has a three prong plug is designed to work with a gronded conductor.

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

Startin' Friday a little early eh Gerry

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by jpope

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

Startin' Friday a little early eh Gerry

Yeah what Jeff says

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

Regards

Gerry

[Richard L. Bennett]

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

[Jae Williams]

Gerry -- Warm pint, no doubt.

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by jwilliams4

Gerry -- Warm pint, no doubt.

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

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

Regards

Gerry

[Richard L. Bennett]

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

[Jay Moge]

Originally Posted by rbennett

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

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?

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by rbennett

Do we all have to spend $$ to find this problem

I would say yes. But that's just me

[Richard L. Bennett]

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

[tneumann]

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?

[Richard L. Bennett]

Tony

I feel the answer is comming --- stand by

rlb