"John Grabowski" wrote in message
...
In addition to what RBM said, I would suggest that you stop using that
multimeter and just use a pigtail socket and standard light bulb to test
the
wires. The results will be more definitive. All of those odd voltages
that
a multimeter displays just confuses a do-it-yourselfer.


Those digital meters are about the worse test device a home owner can use.
They do seem to give all kind of funny voltages, even when there is no real
connection involved. That is probably where the 54 and 34 volts are comming
from . Also that .04 volts is not worth mentioning, just say zero volts.

I work as an electrician and instrument technician at a large plant. I have
a $ 300 digital meter, but mostly use the old Simpson 260 analog meter for
simple tests. I have also used the light bulb and pigtail. Usually get
laughed at by the co-workers when I pull that out, but it usually finds the
problem where the others fail with their digital meters.

You have to know what to expect when using any test device.