On Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:17:08 -0800, David Nebenzahl
wrote:

On 4/2/2010 10:50 PM Evan spake thus:

Most cheap digital multimeters are intended to be used on small
electronic circuits and circuit boards and not for use on testing long
wiring runs like you would see in houses (feet compared to less than
an inch/es on a circuit board)...

Then explain why my cheap DMM gave *perfectly accurate readings* on my
long wiring runs. I'm listening.
If the "long runs" were live, there is no reason the readings
would not be accurate. However, a long run with a "dead" circuit
paralleling a live one MAY read a voltage that would lead you
to believe the circuit was connected and had a problem.
If, in the OP's situation, for instance, the ground conductor
actually DID exist, but was not connected to the panel ground,
it is possible a "sensitive" or high impedence digital (or even
VTVM) meter could indicate a voltage between the ground and either
power-carrying conductor.