120V Socket only reading 85V ???
Hello
I have a single electric socket for my washer which all of a sudden is only reading 85V. The socket is on its own circuit and I have no idea why the drop in voltage. I have removed the socket and tested just the bare wires and get the same reading. I have swapped out the circuit breaker (with a known good one) and have same problem. What else might be causing this? I am guessing I have a short somewhere... Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
|
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
|
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
Hello
I checked at the breaker and it was 120... I will double check the wire connections both at the breaker box and outlet again... Very strange why this happend all of a sudden. I should be able to check the entire line in the attick tomorrow to make sure it is not fried somewhere along the way... In the mean time I am keeping the breaker off. Thanks On Dec 11, 1:51 pm, wrote: wrote: Hello I have a single electric socket for my washer which all of a sudden is only reading 85V. The socket is on its own circuit and I have no idea why the drop in voltage. I have removed the socket and tested just the bare wires and get the same reading. I have swapped out the circuit breaker (with a known good one) and have same problem.Are you getting 85V at the breaker? If so, then you've got big problems, if not then the fault lies in the wiring between the breaker and the outlet. Those big problems could be a number of oddball things, possibly power feeding back through some other device around a break in the system. But check it the breaker. What else might be causing this? I am guessing I have a short somewhere... Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.Thing is, a short that was eating that much power would result in a lot of heat. You should be able to smell the smoke if this were the case. John -- Remove the dead poet to e-mail, tho CC'd posts are unwelcome. Mean People Suck - It takes two deviations to get cool. Ask me about joining the NRA. |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
ThanksWhat are the other outlets reading on each leg of your 220 in? Maybe the transformer feeding your house is going bad on one leg? Check each leg and if one is very dissamaler call your power company and have them look into it. Does the washer run OK? Rich Nope, washer won't run... I thought it went bad so we ran out and bought a new one, only to find out the new one wouldnt run either. Further investigation led me to finding the low voltage issue. I am not having power issues anywhere else in the house, just this single circuit. G |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
First, some terms.
A "short" is when something is connected, but shouldn't be. An "open" is something not connected, but should be. Since you have a VOM, please try reading from the hot to the ground. If this gives you 110 volts, then the problem is with your neutral. In any case, it's a good idea every couple years to take a screw driver and tighten all the neutrals in your breaker box. I know no one does, but it's a good idea. I've lived at the same adress for 11 years, and not tightened my neutrals. -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. .. wrote in message oups.com... Hello I have a single electric socket for my washer which all of a sudden is only reading 85V. The socket is on its own circuit and I have no idea why the drop in voltage. I have removed the socket and tested just the bare wires and get the same reading. I have swapped out the circuit breaker (with a known good one) and have same problem. What else might be causing this? I am guessing I have a short somewhere... Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
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120V Socket only reading 85V ???
OK
I will test the HOT and GROUND and see what voltage I get. Thanks for the tip. On Dec 11, 2:28 pm, "Stormin Mormon" wrote: First, some terms. A "short" is when something is connected, but shouldn't be. An "open" is something not connected, but should be. Since you have a VOM, please try reading from the hot to the ground. If this gives you 110 volts, then the problem is with your neutral. In any case, it's a good idea every couple years to take a screw driver and tighten all the neutrals in your breaker box. I know no one does, but it's a good idea. I've lived at the same adress for 11 years, and not tightened my neutrals. |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
CJT wrote: wrote: Hello I have a single electric socket for my washer which all of a sudden is only reading 85V. The socket is on its own circuit and I have no idea why the drop in voltage. I have removed the socket and tested just the bare wires and get the same reading. I have swapped out the circuit breaker (with a known good one) and have same problem. What else might be causing this? I am guessing I have a short somewhere... Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Check the voltages at your other outlets. If they read other than 120V, you might have an open neutral, with other appliances on the circuit acting as a voltage divider to create a virtual ground. If the OP is using a digital meter, this might also be a completely dead circuit with an induced voltage on it that will go away if, say, a lamp is plugged in (which might be a worthwhile test.) nate |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
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120V Socket only reading 85V ???
Geoff wrote: OK I will test the HOT and GROUND and see what voltage I get. No. Measure hot to neutral. Ideally with some load across the pair, nearby. Failing all else, you may want to enlist the services of a pro. Electrical power probs can get someone killed, or start a fire. Not good. J |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
I will check what the circuit reads when having something plugged into
it... G Check the voltages at your other outlets. If they read other than 120V, you might have an open neutral, with other appliances on the circuit acting as a voltage divider to create a virtual ground.If the OP is using a digital meter, this might also be a completely dead circuit with an induced voltage on it that will go away if, say, a lamp is plugged in (which might be a worthwhile test.) nate |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
I will test a few more things as suggested here... if I can't figure it
out I will be calling in a pro. Don't worry, I don't want my house to burn down either. :) Thanks everyone for their help / suggestions. G On Dec 11, 3:29 pm, wrote: Geoff wrote: OK I will test the HOT and GROUND and see what voltage I get.No. Measure hot to neutral. Ideally with some load across the pair, nearby. Failing all else, you may want to enlist the services of a pro. Electrical power probs can get someone killed, or start a fire. Not good. J |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
wrote in message oups.com... Hello I have a single electric socket for my washer which all of a sudden is only reading 85V. The socket is on its own circuit and I have no idea why the drop in voltage. I have removed the socket and tested just the bare wires and get the same reading. I have swapped out the circuit breaker (with a known good one) and have same problem. What else might be causing this? I am guessing I have a short somewhere... Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Have you checked your attic for squirrels?? I had one chew right through the wires, but when I turned on the light, I heard a thump in the attic...squirrel is no longer chewing..he made a mess! |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
Geoff wrote:
ThanksWhat are the other outlets reading on each leg of your 220 in? Maybe the transformer feeding your house is going bad on one leg? Check each leg and if one is very dissamaler call your power company and have them look into it. Does the washer run OK? Rich Nope, washer won't run... I thought it went bad so we ran out and bought a new one, only to find out the new one wouldnt run either. Further investigation led me to finding the low voltage issue. I am not having power issues anywhere else in the house, just this single circuit. G That pretty much settles it. You said you had 120 at the breaker and 85 at the plug. Somewhere between the breaker and the plug there is an open - the wire is broken, a splice is opened up, a wire is off where it passes thru another outlet, whatever. The voltage you're reading is called "phantom" voltage and will disappear if you put any kind of load on it. For instance, plug something into that outlet and turn it on, but keep it unseated just enough to get your meter probes on the blades; you'll find it's now reading 0 volts, I'm pretty sure. HTH Pop` |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
Stormin Mormon wrote:
First, some terms. A "short" is when something is connected, but shouldn't be. An "open" is something not connected, but should be. Since you have a VOM, please try reading from the hot to the ground. If this gives you 110 volts, then the problem is with your neutral. In any case, it's a good idea every couple years to take a screw driver and tighten all the neutrals in your breaker box. I know no one does, but it's a good idea. I've lived at the same adress for 11 years, and not tightened my neutrals. No, that's NOT a good idea. In fact, it's a good way for somoene who doesn't know what they're doing to get killed. And probably overtighten all the connections too. If it was done right, it won't change. Pop` |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
On 11 Dec 2006 11:48:58 -0800, wrote:
Hello I have a single electric socket for my washer which all of a sudden is only reading 85V. The socket is on its own circuit and I have no idea why the drop in voltage. I have removed the socket and tested just the bare wires and get the same reading. I have swapped out the circuit breaker (with a known good one) and have same problem. What else might be causing this? I am guessing I have a short somewhere... Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Measure the voltage with nothing connected and again with some load connected. You'll probably find nearly 0V with the load. In that case, you have a wire that's not connected and an induced voltage. -- 14 days until the winter solstice celebration Mark Lloyd http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com "How could you ask be to believe in God when there's absolutely no evidence that I can see?" -- Jodie Foster |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
N8N wrote:
CJT wrote: wrote: Hello I have a single electric socket for my washer which all of a sudden is only reading 85V. The socket is on its own circuit and I have no idea why the drop in voltage. I have removed the socket and tested just the bare wires and get the same reading. I have swapped out the circuit breaker (with a known good one) and have same problem. What else might be causing this? I am guessing I have a short somewhere... Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Check the voltages at your other outlets. If they read other than 120V, you might have an open neutral, with other appliances on the circuit acting as a voltage divider to create a virtual ground. If the OP is using a digital meter, this might also be a completely dead circuit with an induced voltage on it that will go away if, say, a lamp is plugged in (which might be a worthwhile test.) nate Have you calculated how much capacitance (and hence, how many feet of wire) would be required for that to be so? -- The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to minimize spam. Our true address is of the form . |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
Geoff wrote:
I will check what the circuit reads when having something plugged into it... Don't forget to turn it on! :-) G Check the voltages at your other outlets. If they read other than 120V, you might have an open neutral, with other appliances on the circuit acting as a voltage divider to create a virtual ground.If the OP is using a digital meter, this might also be a completely dead circuit with an induced voltage on it that will go away if, say, a lamp is plugged in (which might be a worthwhile test.) nate -- The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to minimize spam. Our true address is of the form . |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
CJT wrote:
N8N wrote: CJT wrote: wrote: Hello I have a single electric socket for my washer which all of a sudden is only reading 85V. The socket is on its own circuit and I have no idea why the drop in voltage. I have removed the socket and tested just the bare wires and get the same reading. I have swapped out the circuit breaker (with a known good one) and have same problem. What else might be causing this? I am guessing I have a short somewhere... Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Check the voltages at your other outlets. If they read other than 120V, you might have an open neutral, with other appliances on the circuit acting as a voltage divider to create a virtual ground. If the OP is using a digital meter, this might also be a completely dead circuit with an induced voltage on it that will go away if, say, a lamp is plugged in (which might be a worthwhile test.) nate Have you calculated how much capacitance (and hence, how many feet of wire) would be required for that to be so? Not really, but I have seen readings as high as 75VAC on a DMM on a dead circuit before, so I don't think 85V is out of the question. nate -- replace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
Everyone pretty much nailed the simptoms of the "phantom voltage". I
plugged some Christmas lights (festive I know) into the socket and re-read the voltage, it dropped to Zero... I Tested HOT to Ground and get 120V. Testing HOT to Neutral produced the 0 or 85v (phantom). So, somewhere in the circuit the Neutral has a bad connection. I will trace it tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your assistance... I also read a little bit about basic home wiring, so I have a better understanding of what is going on now.... Thanks Geoff On Dec 11, 7:26 pm, "Pop`" wrote: GThat pretty much settles it. You said you had 120 at the breaker and 85 at the plug. Somewhere between the breaker and the plug there is an open - the wire is broken, a splice is opened up, a wire is off where it passes thru another outlet, whatever. The voltage you're reading is called "phantom" voltage and will disappear if you put any kind of load on it. For instance, plug something into that outlet and turn it on, but keep it unseated just enough to get your meter probes on the blades; you'll find it's now reading 0 volts, I'm pretty sure. HTH Pop` |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
Do you remember the Aesops fable of the man, the boy and the donkey?
It applies, here. -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. .. "Geoff" wrote in message ups.com... I will check what the circuit reads when having something plugged into it... G Check the voltages at your other outlets. If they read other than 120V, you might have an open neutral, with other appliances on the circuit acting as a voltage divider to create a virtual ground.If the OP is using a digital meter, this might also be a completely dead circuit with an induced voltage on it that will go away if, say, a lamp is plugged in (which might be a worthwhile test.) nate |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
Please remit $87.50 for internet consultation.
-- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. .. "Geoff" wrote in message ups.com... Everyone pretty much nailed the simptoms of the "phantom voltage". I plugged some Christmas lights (festive I know) into the socket and re-read the voltage, it dropped to Zero... I Tested HOT to Ground and get 120V. Testing HOT to Neutral produced the 0 or 85v (phantom). So, somewhere in the circuit the Neutral has a bad connection. I will trace it tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your assistance... I also read a little bit about basic home wiring, so I have a better understanding of what is going on now.... Thanks Geoff |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
OK, now we have two opinions. Do I hear three?
More seriously, you're right that unskooled people ought not be mucking about in panel boxes. -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. .. "Pop`" wrote in message news:BBnfh.5138$bj5.1012@trnddc07... Stormin Mormon wrote: In any case, it's a good idea every couple years to take a screw driver and tighten all the neutrals in your breaker box. I know no one does, but it's a good idea. I've lived at the same adress for 11 years, and not tightened my neutrals. No, that's NOT a good idea. In fact, it's a good way for somoene who doesn't know what they're doing to get killed. And probably overtighten all the connections too. If it was done right, it won't change. Pop` |
120V Socket only reading 85V ???
CJT wrote:
N8N wrote: CJT wrote: wrote: Hello I have a single electric socket for my washer which all of a sudden is only reading 85V. The socket is on its own circuit and I have no idea why the drop in voltage. I have removed the socket and tested just the bare wires and get the same reading. I have swapped out the circuit breaker (with a known good one) and have same problem. What else might be causing this? I am guessing I have a short somewhere... Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Check the voltages at your other outlets. If they read other than 120V, you might have an open neutral, with other appliances on the circuit acting as a voltage divider to create a virtual ground. If the OP is using a digital meter, this might also be a completely dead circuit with an induced voltage on it that will go away if, say, a lamp is plugged in (which might be a worthwhile test.) nate Have you calculated how much capacitance (and hence, how many feet of wire) would be required for that to be so? Not necessary, but YOU can if you wish. The wire, capacitance, and the inductance also BTW, are almost entirely IN the meter! The higher the meter's input Z, the higher the phantom voltage it will see. Meter input Z's range usually from a Meg to a hundred Meg ohms or more; do the math. Or test it out. Pop` |
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