HOT WHITE & HOT BLACK - HELP
 

A pig tail tester shows that I have two hot wires in each of the
outlets in one room. House new 23 years ago and no problems until the
other day. A few days ago plugging iron into outlet cause all on
circuit to loose power. Breaker didn't flip. I replaced breaker and
outlet. Iron works fine in other outlet on other circuit. Twelve
hours or so after loosing power, with breaker on lights returned.
Plugged iron in and lost power again without breaker flipping to off.
2nd test of outlet with pig tail tester again showed two hot wires.
Iron works fine elsewhere. Any thoughts appreciated. Room has
outlets, ceiling fan, and a switch to one of the plugs. I didn't test
the switch. Thanks again.

HOT WHITE & HOT BLACK - HELP
 

You have an open neutral, the white wire. It has most likely come loose in a
back stabbed outlet in that room or an adjacent room. Plug in a lamp with
the switch "on" and tap on all the dead outlets and any live outlets in the
vicinity. If you tap on one and the light flickers or comes on, look in that
outlet for loose connections




"JK" wrote in message
oups.com...
A pig tail tester shows that I have two hot wires in each of the
outlets in one room. House new 23 years ago and no problems until the
other day. A few days ago plugging iron into outlet cause all on
circuit to loose power. Breaker didn't flip. I replaced breaker and
outlet. Iron works fine in other outlet on other circuit. Twelve
hours or so after loosing power, with breaker on lights returned.
Plugged iron in and lost power again without breaker flipping to off.
2nd test of outlet with pig tail tester again showed two hot wires.
Iron works fine elsewhere. Any thoughts appreciated. Room has
outlets, ceiling fan, and a switch to one of the plugs. I didn't test
the switch. Thanks again.

HOT WHITE & HOT BLACK - HELP
 

Thanks for the response. Would a loose wire cause the neutral to be
hot?
RBM (remove this) wrote:
You have an open neutral, the white wire. It has most likely come loose in a
back stabbed outlet in that room or an adjacent room. Plug in a lamp with
the switch "on" and tap on all the dead outlets and any live outlets in the
vicinity. If you tap on one and the light flickers or comes on, look in that
outlet for loose connections




"JK" wrote in message
oups.com...
A pig tail tester shows that I have two hot wires in each of the
outlets in one room. House new 23 years ago and no problems until the
other day. A few days ago plugging iron into outlet cause all on
circuit to loose power. Breaker didn't flip. I replaced breaker and
outlet. Iron works fine in other outlet on other circuit. Twelve
hours or so after loosing power, with breaker on lights returned.
Plugged iron in and lost power again without breaker flipping to off.
2nd test of outlet with pig tail tester again showed two hot wires.
Iron works fine elsewhere. Any thoughts appreciated. Room has
outlets, ceiling fan, and a switch to one of the plugs. I didn't test
the switch. Thanks again.

HOT WHITE & HOT BLACK - HELP
 

On 28 Jun 2006 16:03:49 -0700, "JK" wrote:

A pig tail tester shows that I have two hot wires in each of the
outlets in one room. House new 23 years ago and no problems until the
other day. A few days ago plugging iron into outlet cause all on
circuit to loose power. Breaker didn't flip. I replaced breaker and
outlet. Iron works fine in other outlet on other circuit. Twelve
hours or so after loosing power, with breaker on lights returned.
Plugged iron in and lost power again without breaker flipping to off.
2nd test of outlet with pig tail tester again showed two hot wires.
Iron works fine elsewhere. Any thoughts appreciated. Room has
outlets, ceiling fan, and a switch to one of the plugs. I didn't test
the switch. Thanks again.

Intermittent loose neutral?
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what
to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb
contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin

HOT WHITE & HOT BLACK - HELP
 

Yes, it would appear as a hot on both wires, but it is actually a backfed
hot wire from something else on the circuit. If you momentarily bridged a
wire from the white wire to the ground, you would see the lights come back
on. Only do this as a test




"JK" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks for the response. Would a loose wire cause the neutral to be
hot?
RBM (remove this) wrote:
You have an open neutral, the white wire. It has most likely come loose
in a
back stabbed outlet in that room or an adjacent room. Plug in a lamp with
the switch "on" and tap on all the dead outlets and any live outlets in
the
vicinity. If you tap on one and the light flickers or comes on, look in
that
outlet for loose connections




"JK" wrote in message
oups.com...
A pig tail tester shows that I have two hot wires in each of the
outlets in one room. House new 23 years ago and no problems until the
other day. A few days ago plugging iron into outlet cause all on
circuit to loose power. Breaker didn't flip. I replaced breaker and
outlet. Iron works fine in other outlet on other circuit. Twelve
hours or so after loosing power, with breaker on lights returned.
Plugged iron in and lost power again without breaker flipping to off.
2nd test of outlet with pig tail tester again showed two hot wires.
Iron works fine elsewhere. Any thoughts appreciated. Room has
outlets, ceiling fan, and a switch to one of the plugs. I didn't test
the switch. Thanks again.

HOT WHITE & HOT BLACK - HELP
 

if it is an outlet, you can replace all five outlets for $5.
or you can find out if one is bad with a meter by disconnecting each
outlet.
you must unplug all devices from the troublesome circuit and each
outlet with a MULTIMETER for more complete readings leading to better
answers. the neon tester bulb has helped identify a danger in your
home.

original thread with original answers at :
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.h...d674bf 53e1e2

other faq at:
http://www.landfield.com/faqs/electrical-wiring/part1/


JK wrote:
A pig tail tester shows that I have two hot wires in each of the
outlets in one room. House new 23 years ago and no problems until the
other day. A few days ago plugging iron into outlet cause all on
circuit to loose power. Breaker didn't flip. I replaced breaker and
outlet. Iron works fine in other outlet on other circuit. Twelve
hours or so after loosing power, with breaker on lights returned.
Plugged iron in and lost power again without breaker flipping to off.
2nd test of outlet with pig tail tester again showed two hot wires.
Iron works fine elsewhere. Any thoughts appreciated. Room has
outlets, ceiling fan, and a switch to one of the plugs. I didn't test
the switch. Thanks again.