Electrical Question- Defective Ground

[cheapherk]

I had the $hit shocked out of me by an outlet in my basement. I bought one of those "Stop Shock" testers. It showed a defective ground.

I tested other outlets in my home. I found another which read "defective ground," but this one has never shocked me. In fact, I would have never known there was an issue with it hadn't I not tested it.

What causes a defective ground and how do you go about fixing one?

 

[spidey07]

You could open the outlet and make sure the ground wire is attached.

 

[Batti]

Shut the power off first, or get nailed again!

 

[z1ggy]

Yeah if you leave the power on you will become the new source of ground..and inherit even more pain. So..go to the breaker box and do what ever you need to do to make that happen.

 

[0]

These things measure the impedance between the neutral and ground. If its high enough, it registers as defective. If these are 3-prongers, then that means the ground (bare wire) isn't being terminated properly at the panel, or is open somewhere between where you are and the panel.