Devices, systems and methods for detecting reversed polarity and/or bootleg grounded electrical outlets

1. A system for testing an electrical outlet, comprising:

a test receiver, comprising:

a hot receive prong configured for electrical coupling the test receiver with a first hot line of an electrical circuit; and

a signal receiver, coupled to the hot receive prong, configured to detect when a ping signal is present on the first hot line; and

a test transmitter, comprising:

a hot test prong configured for electrical coupling the test transmitter with a second hot line of the electrical circuit;

wherein the first hot line and the second hot line are electrically coupled via the electrical circuit; and

a signal generator, coupled to the hot test prong, configured to generate the ping signal on the second hot line.

2. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the first hot line is electrically coupled to a first hot receptacle of a first electrical outlet; and

wherein the hot receive prong is configured for mating with the first hot receptacle; and

wherein, when mated, the test receiver is electrically coupled to the first hot line via the hot receive prong and the first hot receptacle.

3. The system of claim 2 ,

wherein the second hot line is electrically coupled to a second hot receptacle of a second electrical outlet; and

wherein the hot test prong is electrically coupled with the second hot line via the second hot receptacle.

4. The system of claim 2 ,

wherein the electrical circuit includes at least one circuit breaker coupled to the first hot line and the second hot line;

wherein the electrical circuit includes a main circuit breaker coupling the at least one circuit breaker to an external power line via a main hot line;

wherein the main circuit breaker, when configured in an open-circuit configuration, electrically isolates the main hot line from the external power line; and

wherein the hot test prong is electrically coupled to the main hot line.

5. The system of claim 2 ,

wherein the test receiver further comprises:

a neutral receive prong;

wherein the neutral receive prong is configured for electrical coupling with a first neutral line of the electrical circuit; and

wherein the signal receiver is coupled to the neutral receive prong and configured to:

detect when a ping signal is present at the neutral receive prong; and

when the ping signal is detected at the neutral receive prong generate a first fault condition signal.

6. The system of claim 5 ,

wherein the first neutral line is electrically coupled to a first neutral receptacle of the first electrical outlet;

wherein the neutral receive prong is electrically coupled with the first neutral line via the first neutral receptacle; and

wherein the first fault condition signal indicates a reversed polarity wiring configuration exists for the first electrical outlet.

7. The system of claim 6 ,

wherein the test receiver further comprises:

a ground receive prong; and

a bootleg ground tester, coupled to the ground receive prong, configured to:

detect a bootleg ground wiring configuration of a first ground line with one of the first hot line and the first neutral line; and

when the bootleg ground wiring configuration is detected, generate a second fault condition signal.

8. The system of claim 7 ,

wherein the bootleg ground tester utilizes time domain reflectometry.

9. The system of claim 7 ,

wherein the first ground line is electrically coupled to a first ground receptacle of the first electrical outlet;

wherein the ground receive prong is electrically coupled with the first ground line via the first ground receptacle; and

wherein the second fault condition signal indicates a bootleg ground wiring configuration exists for the first electrical outlet.

10. The system of claim 7 ,

wherein upon generation of each of the first fault condition signal and the second fault condition signal, the test receiver is further configured to generate a third fault signal indicating existence of a reversed polarity bootleg ground wiring configuration for the second electrical outlet.

11. The system of claim 10 ,

wherein the test receiver further comprises:

an output module configured to provide a humanly perceptible output indicative of, when present, the first fault signal, the second fault signal and the third fault signal.

12. The system of claim 10 ,

wherein the test receiver further comprises a wireless communications interface module configured to communicate, when present, the first fault signal, the second fault signal and the third fault signal to a mobile device.

13. The system of claim 10 ,

wherein the test receiver further comprises a wireline communications interface module configured to communicate, when present, the first fault signal, the second fault signal and the third fault signal to the test transmitter.

14. A receiver, for testing compliance of an electrical circuit with an electrical code, comprising:

a hot receive prong configured for electrical coupling a test receiver with a first hot line of an electrical circuit;

a neutral receive prong configured for electrical coupling the test receiver with a first neutral line of the electrical circuit;

a signal receiver, coupled to each of the hot receive prong and the neutral receive prong, configured to:

detect when a ping signal is present at either of the hot receive prong or the neutral receive prong; and

when the ping signal is detected at the neutral receive prong, generate a first fault condition signal.

15. The receiver of claim 14 ,

wherein the ping originates from a test transmitter electrically coupled to a second hot line of the electrical circuit; and

wherein the first hot line and the second hot line are commonly electrically coupled to a first circuit breaker.

16. The receiver of claim 14 , further comprising:

a ground receive prong configured for electrical coupling the test receiver with a first ground line of the electrical circuit; and

a bootleg ground tester, coupled to the ground receive prong, configured to:

detect a bootleg ground wiring configuration of the first ground line with one of the first hot line and the first neutral line; and

when the bootleg ground wiring configuration is detected, generate a second fault condition signal.

17. The receiver of claim 16 , further comprising:

an output module, coupled to the signal receiver and the bootleg ground tester, configured to generate a test result based upon at least a presence or absence of the first fault condition signal and the second fault condition signal;

wherein an electrical outlet having a neutral receptacle, a ground receptacle and a hot receptacle is configured for electrical connection with each of the first neutral line, the first hot line and the first ground line;

wherein, during testing, the hot receive prong is electrically coupled to the hot receptacle;

wherein, during testing, the neutral receive prong is electrically coupled to the neutral receptacle;

wherein, during testing, the ground receive prong is electrically coupled to the ground receptacle;

wherein the first fault signal, when generated, is indicative of a reversed polarity configuration for the electrical outlet; and

wherein the second fault signal, when generated, is indicative of a bootleg ground configuration for the electrical outlet.

18. The receiver of claim 17 ,

wherein the test result is one of the test results of Table 1.

19. A method, for testing an electrical outlet for compliance with an electrical code, comprising:

monitoring a hot receptacle of an electrical outlet for a presence of a ping;

monitoring a neutral receptacle of an electrical outlet for a presence of the ping; and

generating a first fault signal when the ping is detected at the neutral receptacle;

wherein the first fault signal indicates an electrical circuit coupling the electrical outlet to a circuit breaker is configured into a reversed polarity wiring configuration for the electrical outlet.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

performing a bootleg ground test for the electrical outlet, the electrical outlet including a ground receptacle; and

generating a second fault signal when the bootleg ground test indicates a ground jumper connects the ground receptacle with the neutral receptacle; and

generating a third fault signal when the bootleg ground test indicates the ground jumper connects the ground receptacle with the hot receptacle;

wherein each of the second fault signal and the third fault signal indicate a bootleg ground wiring configuration for the electrical outlet

wherein generation of the first fault signal with either of the second fault signal and the third fault signal indicates a reversed polarity bootleg ground wiring configuration for the electrical outlet.