A bootleg ground is a dangerous connection between ground and neutral in an electrical outlet, often found in older homes. It can cause electric shock or damage equipment. Specialized testers or physical inspection can detect it. Solutions include installing a suitable ground or using a GFCI outlet. It’s important to discuss the electrical system with home inspectors and to inspect outlets before working on them.
A bootleg ground is a connection between ground and neutral in an electrical outlet. This is also known as false grounding and can create an electrical hazard. Such wiring can be difficult to detect without specialized electrical circuit testers or a physical inspection of the inside of the outlet. It tends to be more common in older homes, where grounding was not standard at the time of construction. People may make such connections accidentally or intentionally for a variety of reasons, including in an effort to fool homebuyers into thinking the outlets are well founded.
Bootleg terrain can be extremely dangerous. It could cause electric shock or damage the equipment plugged into the outlet. The neutral wire carries current, and connecting the ground wire to the neutral eliminates a safe path for electricity. If something goes wrong, electricity can power the casing of something plugged in, like a lamp, and a family member could get an unpleasant shock.
Basic circuit testers can suggest that the outlet is wired correctly. More sophisticated models can detect a bootleg ground. In a physical inspection of the outlet, a home inspector or electrician can identify the problem and suggest some potential solutions. The best solution is the installation of a suitable ground to cover the house wiring. Another option is to eliminate the bootleg ground and use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet to cut the power if there is a problem with that and other outlets on the same circuit.
Having a bootleg in a home or other structure means it’s not up to code, and it’s dangerous. Electricians can discuss options for coding the structure, depending on budget constraints and any other issues that may be of concern. Homebuyers preparing for inspections may want to discuss the electrical system with their home inspectors, to make sure the system is being thoroughly checked for issues such as smuggle-in patterns and other electrical issues.
For breadwinners working on their own wiring, it is important to shut off power to a circuit before starting work and to carefully inspect outlets and other wiring projects before starting work and after finishing. Sometimes people inadvertently create a bootleg without paying attention, and a quick check can reveal the problem and allow a chance to fix it. Home circuit testers may not necessarily identify such connections. It is recommended that you read the instructions for use carefully to determine what types of conditions they can accurately pinpoint.
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