WiremanWireman · Bootleg ground found: troubleshooting for electricians · 2023 NEC ·
Bootleg ground found
A jumper from neutral to ground fools a plug-in tester. Confirm it, remove it and fix the outlet the right way.
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How it works
A bootleg ground is a jumper from the neutral terminal to the ground terminal of a receptacle, usually added to make an old two-wire outlet look grounded. A plug-in tester reads it as “correct” because the ground hole really is connected to the neutral. The danger is that the neutral carries current: if it opens or loosens upstream, every grounded metal case plugged into that circuit is lifted to line voltage, and normal neutral current runs over metal parts.
Every question and answer in this guide. Tap “Step by step” to walk through it.
- How did you find it, or what makes you suspect it?
- I can see a jumper from neutral to groundWith the breaker off, is there a separate bare or green ground wire in the box?
- No ground wire, just the jumperBootleg ground: neutral jumpered to the ground terminal
- There’s a ground wire, but neutral is tied to it tooNeutral tied to a real ground in the box
- Tester says correct, but the wiring is two-wireTest: Measure neutral to ground with a load onExpect: A real ground reads near 0 V with no load and a small voltage under load, usually well under 2 V, that rises as the load goes up.
- Stays at 0.0 V with the load onTest: Open it up and check the ground terminalExpect: A real ground wire or grounded metal box with continuity to the panel ground.
- Jumper or splice to neutral, no real groundBootleg ground: neutral jumpered to the ground terminal
- Ground wire present with continuityIt looks like a real ground
- Grounded only through a metal box or old armored cableGrounded through the box or cable armor
- Small voltage that rises with loadIt looks like a real ground
- About 120 VOpen neutral on this circuit
- Stays at 0.0 V with the load onTest: Open it up and check the ground terminalExpect: A real ground wire or grounded metal box with continuity to the panel ground.
- It’s a range or dryer on a 3-wire cordIs this an existing circuit, or new or extended work?
- Existing circuit, original wiringExisting 3-wire range or dryer circuit
- New circuit or extended wiring3-wire connection on a new circuit
- I can see a jumper from neutral to groundWith the breaker off, is there a separate bare or green ground wire in the box?