Bootleg ground
Encyclopedia
In mining
, "bootleg ground" may refer to overburden that contains undetonated explosives.
In building wiring, a bootleg ground is an electrical ground
that is wired from the neutral side of a receptacle or light fixture in an older 2-wire home. This essentially connects the neutral side of the receptacle to the casing of an appliance or lamp. It can be a hazard because the neutral wire is a current-carrying conductor. In addition, a fault condition to a bootleg ground will not trip a GFCI
breaker or a receptacle that is wired from the load side of a GFCI receptacle. Bootleg grounding is illegal and against code
in many places. A safer and legal alternative to bootleg grounding (where a local electrical code allows it) is to install a GFCI
and leave the ground screw unconnected, then place a label that says "No Equipment Ground" on the GFCI and all downstream receptacles.
or oven
) to neutral. This has been prohibited in new installations since the 1996 National Electrical Code.
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, "bootleg ground" may refer to overburden that contains undetonated explosives.
In building wiring, a bootleg ground is an electrical ground
Ground (electricity)
In electrical engineering, ground or earth may be the reference point in an electrical circuit from which other voltages are measured, or a common return path for electric current, or a direct physical connection to the Earth....
that is wired from the neutral side of a receptacle or light fixture in an older 2-wire home. This essentially connects the neutral side of the receptacle to the casing of an appliance or lamp. It can be a hazard because the neutral wire is a current-carrying conductor. In addition, a fault condition to a bootleg ground will not trip a GFCI
Residual-current device
A Residual Current Device is a generic term covering both RCCBs and RCBOs.A Residual-Current Circuit Breaker is an electrical wiring device that disconnects a circuit whenever it detects that the electric current is not balanced between the energized conductor and the return neutral conductor...
breaker or a receptacle that is wired from the load side of a GFCI receptacle. Bootleg grounding is illegal and against code
Electrical code
An electrical code is a set of regulations for electrical wiring. The intention of an electrical code is to provide standards to ensure electrical wiring systems that are safe and unlikely to produce either electric shock or fires. Electrical codes are usually devised by national or international...
in many places. A safer and legal alternative to bootleg grounding (where a local electrical code allows it) is to install a GFCI
Residual-current device
A Residual Current Device is a generic term covering both RCCBs and RCBOs.A Residual-Current Circuit Breaker is an electrical wiring device that disconnects a circuit whenever it detects that the electric current is not balanced between the energized conductor and the return neutral conductor...
and leave the ground screw unconnected, then place a label that says "No Equipment Ground" on the GFCI and all downstream receptacles.
240 volt circuits
Before 1996, in the United States it was common to ground 240 volt appliances (such as a clothes dryerClothes dryer
A clothes dryer or tumble dryer is a household appliance that is used to remove moisture from a load of clothing and other textiles, generally shortly after they are cleaned in a washing machine....
or oven
Oven
An oven is a thermally insulated chamber used for the heating, baking or drying of a substance. It is most commonly used for cooking. Kilns, and furnaces are special-purpose ovens...
) to neutral. This has been prohibited in new installations since the 1996 National Electrical Code.