DIYbanter - View Single Post

Bud--

wrote:
On Sat, 03 Apr 2010 02:35:22 -0600, bud--
wrote:

Stormin Mormon wrote:
I'd suggest to buy a three bulb tester at the store, and see
what that reads. Something sounds strange, with that set of
readings.

The 3 lite tester uses a lot higher current than a digital meter so it
shouldn't show phantom voltage.

But it has its own problems. In particular, it can't test for sure there
is a good ground. As with a digital meter, you should know the
limitations of test equipment.
How can it not indicate there is a good ground? - or by good do
you mean a low resistance ground?If the ground is not connected, the
3 lite will show you.
But you are right - it cannot tell you if the ground is up to the
required standard.

I never had a 3 lite tester until rather recently. The package
explicitly said it would not determine if the ground was good. Also
doesn't determine if hot or neutral are good, but you can tell when you
use the outlet.

There are other possibilities. Like if there is no ground and an idiot
wires a receptacle neutral to the ground, and then an idiot - the same
or new - replaces a receptacle upstream and accidentally swaps the hot
and neutral. The 3 lite tester will show the receptacle with a hot
ground as OK. Real unlikely, but ....

--
bud--