In article , Jeff Wisnia wrote:

You weren't bothered at all by his saying he measured 30 volts between
neutral and ground?

Not if he measured it with a digital meter, no.

If you weren't, then please riddle me this Doug. Why would ANY kind of
voltmeter, digital or otherwise, indicate that much voltage between
neutral and ground (That's what the OP stated.) unless there was a
serious defect in the home's wiring.

Digital meters can read voltages at *extremely* low currents. *Any* device
that produces a magnetic field can induce an electrical current on wires that
pass near it. Unexpected currents of less than line voltage, when read by
digital meters, should be verified with an analog meter before leaping to the
conclusion that there is "a serious defect in the home's wiring."

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

Nobody ever left footprints in the sands of time by sitting on his butt.
And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?