Karen wrote:
Hi,

I just searched for and found this newsgroup because I need help
understanding electricity as it applies to a standard, grounded
outlet.

I purchased a decent digital test meter today at the store. I decided
to test an outlet I have in the kitchen because it's already a
grounded type with three prongs.

I inserted one lead into the hot side and one into the ground opening
(the 3rd hole at the bottom), and the meter reads about 115ish. It
sort of fluctuates as I move the leads around. The instructions on
the tester say that it should read 120 V. Are there variations in the
normal voltage of a standard 120 V outlet, and is this normal that it
is only reading 115 not 120?

Since I am getting a reading at all, I am assuming that this means
that the outlet is indeed grounded.

I would not be 100% certain. Modern meters are real sensitive and they
can give some spook readings. Stop at the hardware store and get one of
those three dollar outlet testers. They are not so easily fooled.

As for the voltage, don't worry 115 is in the acceptable range and it is
possible you really have 120, try checking across the two power legs of the
outlet.

Am I correct that if the outlet
were not properly grounded, then the meter would not read anything at
all? In other words, it would read 000?

I do believe that my house is grounded because I have found what I
believe is the grounding rod near one of the front corners of my house
right by the electrical panel.

Two different things. You home may be grounded but the outlets may not
or even the other way around. In older homes you never KNOW, that's why you
use that little tester.

It's a copperish looking rod stuck in
the ground and extending about 9-12 inches out of the ground. The
cable TV cable is attached to it and it looks like a wire that comes
from the electrical panel is also connected to it. Do you think I am
correct, that this is most likely the grounding rod for my house?

Likely true. That "It looks like..." has bit more than one electrician.

If
so, generally, does this mean that all the fuses/outlets for the
entire house are then grounded, regardless if they have a 3 prong
outlet in them? In other words, is the electrical panel itself with
all it's circuit breakers the thing that is grounded? Or is grounding
specific to just one or two outlets or one circuit in the house?

No. An outlet is only grounded if it is properly connected to a proper
ground. Chances are very good that an outlet with out a ground is not
grounded at all and may need a new wire to make it so.


This is long I know, and any help is apprecitated.

Karen

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit