3 Weird Ways to Ground a Two-Prong Electrical Outlet

[@wmcomprev]

Using the GFCI to replace a 2-prong receptacle is NEC approved, but requires 1 more step. It comes with several stick-on labels, one of which is "No Equipment Ground." This label is required to be attached when you use a GFCI to replace a non-grounded receptacle. Also, as with a common GFCI setup, the GFCI can be used to protect other outlets downstream, so they could just be swapped for a 3-prong outlet. However, once again, the label of "No Equipment Ground" is required to be placed on each of those outlets.

[@TopHomeowner]

100%

[@maxheadroom8857]

Now, where the panel breakers are obsolete and AFCI breakers are not available, you must now use AFCI/GFCI combo receptacles to meet retrofit rules for non grounded circuits, short of running new wires to the panel. If you're able to borrow a ground from a bonded box on the same breaker panel or subpanel to all the non grounded boxes & bond the metal box, that is also legal for retrofitting.

[@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440]

@@AlexGoBromake sure white is on silver and black on gold and bare copper wire on ground

[@righteousdivine]

​@@AlexGoBroI was told to use grunding clips

[@robertarnold9815]

@AlexGoBro Don't worry about the open ground indication was long as its functioning (trip/reset). You do have a reversed neutral. My guess is your two wire isn't color coded and might have been reversed in the old two prong before you replaced it. Use a no-contact electrical tester to determine the hot wire or just reverse them and try again. Dont forget the stickers!!!!

[@efthegop8000]

#1. There will not be metal conduit in 99.9% of the old boxes. It will be 2 wire cable with no ground. There is a VERY slim chance that there will be a ground wire in the older cable but it would have to have been installed at a transition period when ground wires were starting to be required but grounded receptacles were not. It's a short window of time. #2 Pretty much spot on. In some cases it is preferable to install GFCI breakers that will protect the entire circuit. #3 Better not be what I think it's gonna be. Crap. It is. You VERY much understated the danger with this method. The fact that it's not NEC approved is the least of the problems. There are many NEC violations that are of .000000001% risk. The danger is not fire, it is ELECTROCUTION, which means death, not just a shock. I'll attempt to explain. In layman's terms, the neutral (white) wire carries current back to the source. If the neutral wire becomes "open" or separated or loose, the current will instead flow on the ground wire. The wire could become open or loose for a number of very common reasons. If the system is properly installed, the only issue will be that some stuff doesn't work. If you have a bootlegged ground, it can easily be deadly. The ground wire on appliances is connected to it's metallic parts. If you have a 3 prong appliance, lets say a refrigerator, plugged into this circuit, all the metal parts of the refrigerator will be energized. Grab the metal handle while barefoot and you could die a very painful death. Lets say the appliance that is plugged in is a garage door opener. The entire door and all metal components could become energized. If that was too mush blah blah blah, I will summarize. Do not ever do this. Get it? Never! Like effing never ever. I mean it. It;s ignorant and negligent and you will have to spend the rest of you life wondering if your hack work is going to kill somebody's kid some day. Dont effing do it for any effing reason ever.

[@TopHomeowner]

Great comment, thanks!

[@Sparky-ww5re]

So true. In the mid to late 1950s, NM cable with ground along with 3 prong receptacles were in it's infancy and rarely installed, since the Code did not require it until 1962 to be exact, and many professional electricians and homebuilders at the time viewed them as an unnecessary expense, where early grounded NM cable was installed often it was wrapped around the cable clamp where it entered the box and you have what's called a "grounded two prong receptacle " This would be very rare.

[@petermorris699]

99.9% is a huge exaggeration. I live in a house built in 1920 and all the boxes used metal conduit. Plastic conduit that uses PVC didn't become common until early 60's. And in the late 60's is when we really started to run ground wire and start using 3 prong outlets... but most houses build then would only ground one or two outlets. So I would say 1/3 of "old" homes have either metal conduit or at least one ground wire in their homes. I would worry more about possible old, out of code, shotty wiring that could cause a fire then grounding something that likely your main breaker would stop the surge anyway.

[@boggy7665]

@@petermorris699 In our region, steel armored cable, "BX", was required going back a very long time. The steel jacket provides a ground, although after the many years, problems may have developed like loose connections to boxes or corrosion.

[@Kat-on3nm]

The metal conduit is a path way to ground (in most cases) through the yoke of the reciptical when that adapter is firmly screwed to the reciptical cover plate screw hole threads and the resptical is firmly /tight to the junction box or wall surface were the receptacle screws are tight with no slop/now that adapter will function just like a three prong receptacle.

[@BillyBobDingledorf]

Did the GFCI thing in my house 16 years ago. A note on the adapter, the odds of a house so old that it has two prong outlets also having metal conduit is very low.

[@dimitriberozny3729]

Bootleg grounds are DANGEROUS!! If for example,an outlet is replaced upstream and the hot and neutral are reversed,you just installed an electrocution hazard!!

[@earlebaker2440]

This should pop the breaker every time if wired this way.

[@l3ander]

@@earlebaker2440 No, because there is no closed circuit

[@the_cruz13]

I'm going with the GFCI certified 2-prong receptacle since it doesn't have a ground. I'm also installing a new device box for it since the old device box was heavy modified to fit within the space needed. Thank you for the video.

[@tchevrier]

"GCFI certified 2-prong receptacle". - What is a 2 prong GFCI receptacle? And what is GFCI certified?

[@leevieira2903]

This is a great explanation for people like me that no nothing about electrical connections. The GFCI outlet, looks to be a solid solution for 2 pronged outlets.

[@Sparky-ww5re]

Yes, installing GFCI protection is a great way to make an old ungrounded circuit safer without the expense and inconvenience of needing to fish in new romex which can come at a great expense depending on the layout of the home. The end user should be made to understand a surge protector plugged into an ungrounded GFCI protected circuit is useless.

[@petermorris699]

Easy to install too. If you can stomach working on wires in your wall.

[@jloza9840]

So if you’re not sure what outlet is the main one feeding the “room” is it okay to replace every outlet with gfci? Thank you.

[@Seamus322]

Our house was built about 1940 with 2 conductor armored bx with metal outlet boxes. I found some 3 prong outlets grounded to the box and bx.

[@chadrowland5234]

I have a friend from high school who owns some rental properties and they are older with knob and tube wiring. She had me inspect a few rental properties and I found at least a dozen receptacles that were bootlegged. Someone used a straightened paper clip to bootleg the receptacles. I yanked them out and installed GFCI receptacles. I see bootleg receptacles all the time.

[@A_Canadian_In_Poland]

What about running an insulated grounding conductor to each electrical box separate to the existing ungrounded cable?

[@chrisgraham2904]

Similar to what I am wondering. If you have the ability in your structure, could you run a separate green ground wire from the receptacle, or the metal receptacle box, back to ground in the panel to provide a ground for that receptacle? In my location, panels are grounded to the main copper cold waterline entering the house, rather than a grounding rod. In this case, could a kitchen receptacle, for example, be grounded by running a green ground wire from the receptacle, or the metal receptacle box, to a grounding clamp secured to the nearest copper cold water pipe under the kitchen sink?

[@whiskeygreen719]

So I had an electrician do some work at our 1937 homestead. The main panel was upgraded and some newer modern wiring and receptacles were replaced, namely kitchen and baths. The bulk of the wiring was BX cable, 2 wires wrapped in a metal sheath. Most of the outlets were 2 prong outlets outside of the few that were replaced and updated some years past. The electrician told me a simple test to see if the metal box was grounded using a multimeter or test light. I was able to then drill and tap ground screws into the existing metal box and add a ground wire to swap our 2 prong with 3 prong outlets. Tester shows “correct wiring” throughout. Thoughts?

[@XenaTheQuadCamBikah]

My electrician did this too when he replaced some two prong outlets in my house.

[@maxheadroom8857]

Totally legal. You can also use ground clips on the boxes to install a jumper to the receptacle if space is tight for adding a wire inside the box.

[@cgillyard]

Totally fine as long as each junction point back to the panel is connected nice and tight to provide the ground path. Some will debate that's not safe way of grounding, ask yourself why commercial buildings use BX/AC wiring over modern day romex with ground? Something to think about.

[@billhouse1090]

What about running a separate ground wire to the receptacle and grounding to the water pipes? You can often fish a single conductor wire down from the outlet to a water pipe pretty easy. If I remember you need to install a jumper from the input to the output water pipe on the hot water heater incase it is removed.

[@chrisruss7863]

Ground pipes are not low impedance paths back the source and frankly, in the event that a ground fault didn't trip the breaker, it would be extremely dangerous to energize water pipes.

[@maxheadroom8857]

@@chrisruss7863 Plumbing code now requires all metal pipes to be bonded continuously in a residential building. Gas lines and metal water pipes must be bonded. All exposed water lines must be metal pipe above ground until it enters the building. From there, it can be either metal or plastic. Gas lines must be bonded and protected by grounding rods at the point of entrance per plumbing code.

[@chrisruss7863]

@maxheadroom8857 yes but it is still not an acceptable equipment grounding conductor per NEC 250.118, no matter what plumbing code states

[@maxheadroom8857]

@@chrisruss7863 exactly! I learned about that issue back in 1980 when I was taking electronics back in high school. My teacher taught about the way most pre 1962 homes in Orange County California were grounded to galvanized steel water pipes at the breaker panel. CPVC water pipes started appearing in the 70s, breaking grounding continuity in a number of older houses grounded by metal water pipes. My galvanized water pipes serve as a ground to my electrical in my house. One day, I will need to change the water pipes and have the plumber bond the pipes to the panel. Fortunately, my house has a raised foundation, and I've seen the ground wires on my cold water pipe. I will need to dig under my garage, which is detached, to ground it when I have my home repiped one day, or run a jumper to the plumbing in my garage to bond the boxes to the electrical, as I will not run CPVC or PEX to water spigots in my yard.

[@championplayerdo7604]

Saw the video on Google pop 10 on KZbin just to give you a thumbs up thanks

[@TopHomeowner]

Awesome, thank you!

[@johnjacobjinglehimerschmid3555]

I've been in alot of my outlets and switches in the house I just bought. Not one has a ground wire.

[@darrylm3627]

Good Content,GreatTips😀👍🏿

[@surferdude642]

Good job. One thing that should be mentioned is that it's recommend that sensitive electronic equipment such as tv's, computers, etc. should be plugged into a surge protector, but surge protectors will not work on a ungrounded receptacle, gfci's or regular.

[@TopHomeowner]

Great point!

[@urband10]

That's what I was thinking. Nice to mention, I had to wired a plug to use a No break for my computer.

[@bgarren444]

I have a surge protector installed in my panel because of this, I wonder if it will provide any protection on the circuits I have that are 2 wire only.

[@surferdude642]

@@bgarren444 No, surge protectors use metal oxide varistors to divert excess current to ground, so a ground wire is required.

[@okaro6595]

Why would a surge protector not work? It has all the pins connected by varistors.If there is a surge voltage between lie and neutral the surge protector will pass it between them.

[@dalanjw]

Thank you so much.

[@danschenck9442]

have old house. metal junction box. get 3 prong outlet ,when screw back into metal junctionn box the outlet acts as ground. when in doubt, use gfi outlet. ,give extra afety .

[@rshoe1023]

Be very careful when joining your equipment ground conductor to your neutral grounded conductor! That's how people could get hurt! The GFCI receptacle is the best way to go.

[@gabrielM1111]

What about connecting the ground terminal to copper pipe nearby in a wall?

[@TopHomeowner]

You might be able to do that, but if theres any break in the pipe (e.g. pex section) than you won't have a ground.

[@gabrielM1111]

@@TopHomeowner thanks . Another q for u please . Is the actual metal jacket in metal clad cable (hot neutral no ground wire) code ground when all the boxes are metal?

[@darkcat104]

i like how you clean up

[@leonardjoesten1222]

I have a 4th way. Run a wire from a water pipe up to the ground screw of a newly installed 3 prong outlet. But is this legal?

[@TopHomeowner]

That used to be acceptable, but it's not allowed by the NEC anymore (2002 i believe) since there's such a high chance that plumbing can have non-conductive sections. It's really easy to replace a section of copper pipe with PEX for example.

[@mangatom192]

@@TopHomeowner How about wiring it on a ground rod or a metal bar/rebar buried on the ground? Would that still work?

[@maxheadroom8857]

@@mangatom192 you have a very good question. When it comes to grounding, the receptacle must have a ground connected back to the panel. The panel now requires being bonded to a ground rod and in some cases will connect to a copper water pipe near the main service panel. The pipe must connect to an 8 foot deep grounding rod as well. This is 2020 code. 2023 is even more stringent. The continuity break in grounding to a cold water pipe problem started coming up in the late 70s. Homeowners started patching broken galvanized and broken copper pipes with PVC pipes in sections, breaking the continuity by not providing a jumper wire of thick gauge copper to continue continuity for grounding. And when plumbers started repiping homes with galvanized steel pipes with copper pipes, many did not bond grounds from the galvanized pipes to the copper pipes. Many homes lost continuity to grounded outlets back then. I happen to own a home built in 1955. It still has galvanized pipes. The grounds are not compromised, and when the pipes get replaced one day, I will let the plumber know that the outlets are grounded to the pipes per 1955 NEC code, so that the plumber will bond the grounds and also drive ground rods into the soil for 2023 plumbing code as well. Plumbing code requires electrical panel grounds be connected at the main entrance to the pipes, then be bonded to a ground rod at every exposed spot outside.

[@okaro6595]

That prevents a shock between the water pipe and the equipment, nothing more. You should use in addition the GFCI.

[@okaro6595]

@@mangatom192 Ground rods do not save you. They might reduce the voltage by 10%. With a GFCI it works, it is enough that 5 mA goes to the ground to trip the GFCI. Remember how the ground is connected to the neutral. That is what protects you, not any rod.

[@bgrt40]

Is there anyway to determine if ground is boot legged besides visual inspections at each outlet/fixture?

[@TopHomeowner]

Typically testers don't check for bootleg grounds so visual inspection is your best bet

[@teamsilva7563]

If I need to make an ADU “code compliant” would going the GFCI route for the old ungrounded circuits result in me passing an inspection?

[@orjem]

Excellent nice video, my home it to old, do not have ground wire do you have a video for other solution

[@TopHomeowner]

You can use GFCI: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXK7lIWpdrR_hs0

[@Numin3x]

hey, can my pc components get damaged if i keep using it with an ungrounded outlet ? whenever i touch a metallic part of my case i get a continuous tingling eletric shock (but only when im barefoot)

[@donaldgibsonjr3448]

Well good jobe now i get shocked number 1 rule White to silver Black to gold Ground to green And you ready to go my brother

[@henrynguyen4132]

Hi, do we need to bond the ground from GFCI outlet to metal housing box? Thank you

[@TopHomeowner]

The GFCI protection works internally without a ground. The problem with attaching a ground to the metal box is that there's a lot of times where they aren't actually grounded. Might want to consult with an electrician and have them help you investigate.

[@henrynguyen4132]

@@TopHomeowner thank you

[@ThanhTran-qq6xm]

Is it possible to do a grounded GFCI downstream from inside main house to Garage? My garage underground wire is only two wire. I was thinking to do a downstream from inside the house from the grounded GFCI so all the outlets in the garage would be protected?

[@TopHomeowner]

Anything downstream from the GFCI will be protected.

[@drueatcer]

My dad started building a cabin up in Big Bear California in 1959, finished in 1961. They are all too prong. Never had a problem, we still have the cabin, what do you suggest we do to prevent a problem, or if there ever will be a problem.

[@surferdude642]

Replace the 2 prong receptacles with GFCI's in the bathrooms and kitchen (where close to the sink), and maybe a few other locations where you anticipate 3 prong cords will be used. The good news is that most appliances have 2 prong cords because they are double insulated and safe to use.

[@kronos9685]

What if you fish the ground wire to the crawl space below and then connect it to the breaker boxes ground pole with that work?

[@TopHomeowner]

Yes, that would ground the panel. Your wiring in the walls need to have a ground wire as well, but if that's the case you should be good. Just follow all the requirements for the grounding rod and location.

[@BlackMambaKO]

Does that GFCI shut down electricity if apliance live wire makes contact with ground wire/housing?

[@TopHomeowner]

Any discrepancy (as small as 4 or 5 milliamps) between the hot to the neutral will trip the GFCI

[@BlackMambaKO]

@@TopHomeowner so it is similar if you had actual ground from the fuse box?

[@TopHomeowner]

@BlackMambaKO Similar, but not exactly the same. GFCI provides protection from electrocution so it's a safety feature. You still need a true ground if you want to hook up devices that really need it, like computers and other electronics.

[@nicko5566]

If doing the GFCI option, does that mean that all outlets in the circuit need to be a GFCI?

[@TopHomeowner]

One GFCI will protect all downstream outlets as long as they are wired to the Load terminals

[@nicko5566]

@@TopHomeowner Code permitting, could one simply install a GFCI breaker in their panel, and label all outlets on the circuit with "no ground" labels?

[@Sparky-ww5re]

Frankly, as a residential journeyman electrician, in my opinion those 2 to 3 prongs adapter, what I and my coworkers like to call cheater plugs, should be illegal, in fact if you go to the hardware store in Canada looking for cheater plugs you're SOL. They are illegal in Canada, at least parts of Canada to my understanding. Besides allowing for a 3 pronged appliance to be used in a 2 prong receptacle, cheater plugs find another unsafe use in the A/V field, for breaking ground loops and eliminating that 60Hz hum sometimes heard when interconnecting amplifiers, mixers, turn tables and similar gear plugged into different receptacles or circuits.

[@TopHomeowner]

It's sometimes amazing to know what's allowed in the US compared to other countries. Thanks for the comment!

[@luisoncpp]

I'm from Mexico and here these kind of adapters are pretty common and even something that's used every day. Not only for connecting to the outlet in the wall but also because many extension coords only have 2 prongs (there are even some extension cords with extra holes that allow to insert the third prong without doing anything). Today I'm learning for first time that they are dangerous after using them all my life. EDIT: still I always had the feeling that high power devices (like washer machines or microwaves) should be connected directly to the outlet without any adapter nor extension cord, but for things like computers, TVs, or coffee makers I never cared.

[@NickLavic]

I'm Canadian and I was able to buy a cheater plug at my local BMR store, so I don't think they are illegal.

[@okaro6595]

All these happen if you use a GFCI.If there is hum you get a galvanic isolator.

[@maxheadroom8857]

Back in the day, the adapters came with directions, telling the user to temporarily use these, and when installing them, they suggested running another wire from the outlet face plate to a cold water pipe, clamping it down for a temporary ground while using the 3 prong device.

[@Leeproeun]

Thank you 🙏

[@LayKxD]

So i have a gaming PC that is connected to an open grounded outlet. It was an add on and the previous owner did some shady electrical work. I am on a budget and cannot afford the 1500$ electrician right now but plan on it. I have a UPS attached to the outlet but my PC is still hot when I touch any metal inside. Is a GFCI outlet safe enough until I get it properly wired?

[@TopHomeowner]

GFCI will only add a layer of safety and not give you a true ground unfortunately. So for example if you touch the metal of the PC and current starts flowing through you, the GFCI is only going to shut off the power.

[@tchevrier]

your "PC is still hot when I touch any metal inside". - Could you explain that a little better. Any metal should not be hot...

[@robertbaker837]

Can someone explain why a bootleg ground is worse than an open ground? Thanks.

[@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440]

if you have a generator or powerstation(battery) and the plugs arent grounded you can ether use a netural to ground bonding plus or if you can take the outlet out and wire netural to ground, this is the only way since they arent connected directly to a panel!

[@kultur-vultur]

Here to know whats safe not what to get away with. Good to know what to look out for too.

[@JohnWelker-u5k]

The national electric code prohibits the ground and neutral wires being connected together anywhere except at the service entrance box namely the main circuit breaker box.

[@TopHomeowner]

100%!

[@geneford9760]

What about instead of a GFCI receptacle you install a AFCI receptacle? And they make a GFCI/AFCI combo.

[@TopHomeowner]

The GFCI/AFCI combo would work too!

[@sg39g]

You should have talked about other solutions that are preferable to those you mentioned. A first permanent solution is to install a separate wire for grounding without replacing the cable. Installing just one small wire is much less expensive and much easier. Another solution is to connect the electrical outlet to a cold water pipe, which can be very easy in the kitchen or bathroom.

[@chrisgraham2904]

This is exactly what I was wondering and whether it is acceptable or approved by code. In my case, running a separate insulated green ground wire back to the panel is prohibitive, but I have two non-grounded receptacles in my kitchen in which a separate insulated green ground wire could be quite easily terminated to a grounding clamp on the kitchen copper cold water pipe. I would change the receptacles to GFI receptacles, but even those are preferred to be grounded where possible. In my location, all electrical service panels are grounded to the main copper water supply (on the supply side of the water meter), rather than to an electrical grounding rod. Of course, this is not suitable if a home has non-metallic water supply piping (PVC, CPVC, PEX), or any non-metallic sections, or interruptions in the water supply circuit.

[@chrisgraham2904]

This is exactly what I was wondering and whether it is acceptable or approved by code. In my case, running a separate insulated green ground wire back to the panel is prohibitive, but I have two non-grounded receptacles in my kitchen in which a separate insulated green ground wire could be quite easily terminated to a grounding clamp on the kitchen copper cold water pipe. I would change the receptacles to GFI receptacles, but even those are preferred to be grounded where possible. In my location, all electrical service panels are grounded to the main copper water supply (on the supply side of the water meter), rather than to an electrical grounding rod. Of course, this is not suitable if a home has non-metallic water supply piping (PVC, CPVC, PEX), or any non-metallic sections, or interruptions in the water supply circuit.

[@TacoDaddy-mr8ig]

Time 4:25 ! Bootleg ground 😅

[@crazysquirrel9425]

Is is absolutely NOT CHEAP to rewire anything. A detached garage that has no ground wire back to the house - $2,000 to upgrade the wiring not counting the panel upgrade. Easier to drive a ground rod by the garage and run garage grounds to it. No different than grounding a sub panel in a way. And FAR FAR FAR cheaper too. A ground is a ground no matter where it is.

[@johndemarcantonio1287]

My box is metal in my OLD home. The wires are cloth covered, NOT conduit. Thanks.

[@TopHomeowner]

Sure thing!

[@tbok75]

Been putting in gfci outlets around the house but what I'm looking for is how to do a half-hot setup for a wall switch and have yet to find an answer.

[@Thrunabulax10]

woah, you did not know that the grounding tab in a 2 to 3 prong adapter needed a ground screw? Why am i watching hyour video for electrical advice. I knew this when i was ten years old!

[@TopHomeowner]

The point I was making is that you have to be sure the box is grounded as well, which may or may not be the case. Most of the time I've seen cheater plugs used, they aren't attached regardless. Personally I wound't depend on them but to each their own

[@hammerridecycling7630]

wow i have bought a old house last year and all of my outlets is bootleg.

[@TopHomeowner]

Sorry to hear that

[@tsquare6289]

What about replacing the 2 prong with a 3 prong and then connecting the ground to a metal conduit coming from the main electrical panel (that's like using the metal conduit as a ground wire)?

[@toniomiklo2406]

And what if I have two-prong devices (which is the standard in the EU area, thanks to the EU incompetence and ignorance) and three-prong outlets? How can I ground the devices? Thanks.

[@tchevrier]

if you have 2 prong devices, then don't worry about.

[@tchevrier]

those adapters are NOT solutions (even a temporary one) for grounding an outlet. They are only adapters.

[@TopHomeowner]

100%

[@TacoDaddy-mr8ig]

Time 2:51 gfci

[@christopherpenn1326]

None of these examples are a way to effectively ground the outlet. The only way to growing an outlet is to connect a ground wire that terminates in the electrical panel. GFCI plugs do not provide an equipment ground unless they have a real ground wire. No not use any of the methods in this video if you need a grounded receptacle.

[@williamweckel8140]

Just off your thumbnail... Connecting a 3 prong ground to the neutral DOES NOT provide a ground that returns to the panel and is NOT a recommended method.

[@TopHomeowner]

100%... You should watch the video

[@djm5k]

@@TopHomeowner maybe you should change your thumbnail photo and caption which eludes to showing the bootleg option as best before watching the video or just skip watching it altogether because it is misleading.

[@Kat-on3nm]

Electric Ranges,dryers are boot leg off the nutural on older wired house's.

[@StrifeTrinity]

Who else is getting "thise guy " vibes from him. Lol

[@luisoncpp]

uh? what does that mean?

[@christopherpenn1326]

Lol. It’s when your thinking I can’t believe he is saying this, and what he is saying is ridiculous beyond measure.

[@rexyoshimoto4278]

What a drag. That wasn't helpful.