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120V between Neutral and Ground
I have been trying to trace down where a circuit starts showing
voltage between my ground wire and neutral wire. I found the a receptacle on the circuit that is correct where the neutral and ground show 0V, and then a box which I believe is the next receptacle that shows 120V between the ground and neutral. I have looked in both boxes and everything looks correct. 1st Box H-N = 120V H-G = 120V N-G = 0V 2nd Box H-N = 120V H-G = 0V N-G = 120V What can cause the above scenario. A short? A broken wire? Also, is this dangerous? I think it has been like this for awhile. |
120V between Neutral and Ground
"Aaron" wrote in message ... I have been trying to trace down where a circuit starts showing voltage between my ground wire and neutral wire. I found the a receptacle on the circuit that is correct where the neutral and ground show 0V, and then a box which I believe is the next receptacle that shows 120V between the ground and neutral. I have looked in both boxes and everything looks correct. 1st Box H-N = 120V H-G = 120V N-G = 0V 2nd Box H-N = 120V H-G = 0V N-G = 120V What can cause the above scenario. A short? A broken wire? Also, is this dangerous? I think it has been like this for awhile. Maybe the white and black wires have been reversed between the first and second receptacles.There maybe some other junction between these outlets. It's not an open or short. You have proper voltage at both receptacles |
120V between Neutral and Ground
On Mar 15, 10:50*pm, "Ralph Mowery"
wrote: "Aaron" wrote in message ... I have been trying to trace down where a circuit starts showing voltage between my ground wire and neutral wire. *I found the a receptacle on the circuit that is correct where the neutral and ground show 0V, and then a box which I believe is the next receptacle that shows 120V between the ground and neutral. *I have looked in both boxes and everything looks correct. 1st Box H-N = 120V H-G = 120V N-G = 0V 2nd Box H-N = 120V H-G = 0V N-G = 120V What can cause the above scenario. *A short? *A broken wire? Also, is this dangerous? *I think it has been like this for awhile. It looks like somewhere the neutral and the hot wires have been reversed. While you are probabaly not in danger of a meltdown, do not use the socket that has the faulty wiring. Also something else I just thought of. Downstream from the bad box, there is a light and the switch leg shows voltage between the neutral and the ground when the switch is off. |
120V between Neutral and Ground
On Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:39:32 -0700 (PDT), Aaron
wrote: I have been trying to trace down where a circuit starts showing voltage between my ground wire and neutral wire. I found the a receptacle on the circuit that is correct where the neutral and ground show 0V, and then a box which I believe is the next receptacle that shows 120V between the ground and neutral. I have looked in both boxes and everything looks correct. 1st Box H-N = 120V H-G = 120V N-G = 0V 2nd Box H-N = 120V H-G = 0V N-G = 120V ' If you have 120 between your neutral and ground, that's good. They don't bill you for current on either of those conductors, so if you reconnect your circuits, you can run your electric things for free. What can cause the above scenario. A short? A broken wire? Also, is this dangerous? I think it has been like this for awhile. |
120V between Neutral and Ground
"Aaron" wrote in message ... I have been trying to trace down where a circuit starts showing voltage between my ground wire and neutral wire. I found the a receptacle on the circuit that is correct where the neutral and ground show 0V, and then a box which I believe is the next receptacle that shows 120V between the ground and neutral. I have looked in both boxes and everything looks correct. 1st Box H-N = 120V H-G = 120V N-G = 0V 2nd Box H-N = 120V H-G = 0V N-G = 120V What can cause the above scenario. A short? A broken wire? Also, is this dangerous? I think it has been like this for awhile. It looks like somewhere the neutral and the hot wires have been reversed. While you are probabaly not in danger of a meltdown, do not use the socket that has the faulty wiring. |
120V between Neutral and Ground
On 3/15/2011 10:46 PM, RBM wrote:
wrote in message ... I have been trying to trace down where a circuit starts showing voltage between my ground wire and neutral wire. I found the a receptacle on the circuit that is correct where the neutral and ground show 0V, and then a box which I believe is the next receptacle that shows 120V between the ground and neutral. I have looked in both boxes and everything looks correct. 1st Box H-N = 120V H-G = 120V N-G = 0V 2nd Box H-N = 120V H-G = 0V N-G = 120V What can cause the above scenario. A short? A broken wire? Also, is this dangerous? I think it has been like this for awhile. Maybe the white and black wires have been reversed between the first and second receptacles.There maybe some other junction between these outlets. I don't see how it could be anything but. Likely just switched the wires, the ground is correct. Jeff It's not an open or short. You have proper voltage at both receptacles |
120V between Neutral and Ground
"Aaron" wrote in message ... On Mar 15, 10:50 pm, "Ralph Mowery" wrote: "Aaron" wrote in message ... I have been trying to trace down where a circuit starts showing voltage between my ground wire and neutral wire. I found the a receptacle on the circuit that is correct where the neutral and ground show 0V, and then a box which I believe is the next receptacle that shows 120V between the ground and neutral. I have looked in both boxes and everything looks correct. 1st Box H-N = 120V H-G = 120V N-G = 0V 2nd Box H-N = 120V H-G = 0V N-G = 120V What can cause the above scenario. A short? A broken wire? Also, is this dangerous? I think it has been like this for awhile. It looks like somewhere the neutral and the hot wires have been reversed. While you are probabaly not in danger of a meltdown, do not use the socket that has the faulty wiring. Also something else I just thought of. Downstream from the bad box, there is a light and the switch leg shows voltage between the neutral and the ground when the switch is off. More evidence that the black and white wires got reversed. This switch is now breaking the neutral, and the hot is going directly to the fixture. |
120V between Neutral and Ground
Good idea to get an electrician to check that, and possibly
rewire the socket. -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "Ralph Mowery" wrote in message ... It looks like somewhere the neutral and the hot wires have been reversed. While you are probabaly not in danger of a meltdown, do not use the socket that has the faulty wiring. |
120V between Neutral and Ground
Can be caused by being wired backwards. Yes, it can be
dangerous. It's not a severe danger, but here's why. Appliances usually have on off switch. If the socket is wired bakwards, the wires in the appliance can be "hot" while the switch is off. It's not going to kill someone today, but it's less safe. Should be corrected, sometime at your convenience. -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "Aaron" wrote in message ... I have been trying to trace down where a circuit starts showing voltage between my ground wire and neutral wire. I found the a receptacle on the circuit that is correct where the neutral and ground show 0V, and then a box which I believe is the next receptacle that shows 120V between the ground and neutral. I have looked in both boxes and everything looks correct. 1st Box H-N = 120V H-G = 120V N-G = 0V 2nd Box H-N = 120V H-G = 0V N-G = 120V What can cause the above scenario. A short? A broken wire? Also, is this dangerous? I think it has been like this for awhile. |
120V between Neutral and Ground
On Mar 16, 7:59*am, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote: Can be caused by being wired backwards. Yes, it can be dangerous. It's not a severe danger, but here's why. Appliances usually have on off switch. If the socket is wired bakwards, the wires in the appliance can be "hot" while the switch is off. It's not going to kill someone today, but it's less safe. Should be corrected, sometime at your convenience. -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus *www.lds.org . "Aaron" wrote in message ... I have been trying to trace down where a circuit starts showing voltage between my ground wire and neutral wire. *I found the a receptacle on the circuit that is correct where the neutral and ground show 0V, and then a box which I believe is the next receptacle that shows 120V between the ground and neutral. *I have looked in both boxes and everything looks correct. 1st Box H-N = 120V H-G = 120V N-G = 0V 2nd Box H-N = 120V H-G = 0V N-G = 120V What can cause the above scenario. *A short? *A broken wire? Also, is this dangerous? *I think it has been like this for awhile. Who did the wiring in question? If licensed, their license should be rescinded. |
120V between Neutral and Ground
It does seem negligent. After all, a three bulb tester
would have spotted that. I looked on HF, and can't find the item. Three blade plug, three bulbs. Typically made of yellow plastic. -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "hr(bob) " wrote in message ... Who did the wiring in question? If licensed, their license should be rescinded. |
120V between Neutral and Ground
RBM wrote: "Aaron" wrote in message ... On Mar 15, 10:50 pm, "Ralph Mowery" wrote: "Aaron" wrote in message ... I have been trying to trace down where a circuit starts showing voltage between my ground wire and neutral wire. I found the a receptacle on the circuit that is correct where the neutral and ground show 0V, and then a box which I believe is the next receptacle that shows 120V between the ground and neutral. I have looked in both boxes and everything looks correct. 1st Box H-N = 120V H-G = 120V N-G = 0V 2nd Box H-N = 120V H-G = 0V N-G = 120V What can cause the above scenario. A short? A broken wire? Also, is this dangerous? I think it has been like this for awhile. It looks like somewhere the neutral and the hot wires have been reversed. While you are probabaly not in danger of a meltdown, do not use the socket that has the faulty wiring. Also something else I just thought of. Downstream from the bad box, there is a light and the switch leg shows voltage between the neutral and the ground when the switch is off. More evidence that the black and white wires got reversed. This switch is now breaking the neutral, and the hot is going directly to the fixture. I am just curious...., If I had a situation like that (I don't), would one way to try to figure out where the wires got switched be to use a continuity checker? In other words, turn off all of the power and then use a continuity checker with a long wire and alligator clip attached, and try to trace which wire from the first box has continuity to which wire in the second box, etc. |
120V between Neutral and Ground
Might be easier to look at the back of sockets. Black to
copper screw, white to silver screw. Some where, a socket is wired backwards. -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "RogerT" wrote in message ... If I had a situation like that (I don't), would one way to try to figure out where the wires got switched be to use a continuity checker? In other words, turn off all of the power and then use a continuity checker with a long wire and alligator clip attached, and try to trace which wire from the first box has continuity to which wire in the second box, etc. |
120V between Neutral and Ground
On Mar 16, 10:39*am, "RogerT" wrote:
RBM wrote: "Aaron" wrote in message ... On Mar 15, 10:50 pm, "Ralph Mowery" wrote: "Aaron" wrote in message .... I have been trying to trace down where a circuit starts showing voltage between my ground wire and neutral wire. I found the a receptacle on the circuit that is correct where the neutral and ground show 0V, and then a box which I believe is the next receptacle that shows 120V between the ground and neutral. I have looked in both boxes and everything looks correct. 1st Box H-N = 120V H-G = 120V N-G = 0V 2nd Box H-N = 120V H-G = 0V N-G = 120V What can cause the above scenario. A short? A broken wire? Also, is this dangerous? I think it has been like this for awhile. It looks like somewhere the neutral and the hot wires have been reversed. While you are probabaly not in danger of a meltdown, do not use the socket that has the faulty wiring. Also something else I just thought of. *Downstream from the bad box, there is a light and the switch leg shows voltage between the neutral and the ground when the switch is off. More evidence that the black and white wires got reversed. This switch is now breaking the neutral, and the hot is going directly to the fixture. I am just curious...., If I had a situation like that (I don't), would one way to try to figure out where the wires got switched be to use a continuity checker? In other words, turn off all of the power and then use a continuity checker with a long wire and alligator clip attached, and try to trace which wire from the first box has continuity to which wire in the second box, etc.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I agree. Since you are just guessing this is the downleg box you really don't know. Power it all down, disconnect the wires and start checking continuity with an ohm meter or continuity checker. If it looks like a wire leaves the box as one color and shows up in the other box as another color that means there is a box between the two you have not found. Or a splice buried in the wall. |
120V between Neutral and Ground
"Aaron" wrote in message
... I have been trying to trace down where a circuit starts showing voltage between my ground wire and neutral wire. I found the a receptacle on the circuit that is correct where the neutral and ground show 0V, and then a box which I believe is the next receptacle that shows 120V between the ground and neutral. I have looked in both boxes and everything looks correct. 1st Box H-N = 120V H-G = 120V N-G = 0V 2nd Box H-N = 120V H-G = 0V N-G = 120V What can cause the above scenario. A short? A broken wire? Also, is this dangerous? I think it has been like this for awhile. Wires are reversed, possibly at the outlet you're measuring at. Find the circuit's breaker and pull the outlet and make sure green or bare copper goes to green, black to gold and white to silver. Make sure any pigtailing is properly done. Find all other outlets on the circuit and check them as well. Get a 3 prong outlet tester with little neon lights to test each outlet for correct polarity and grounding ($5) http://www.thecircuitdetective.com/test.htm http://www.thecircuitdetective.com/outlet_tester.gif If all the outlets pass but the lamp switch wiring is still screwy, then I would suspect something a little more difficult to track down. Is that switch a dimmer, timer or other powered switch? I often find people perplexed when installing these devices in a lamp fixture circuit that doesn't have a neutral wire so they pull one from somewhere else, often with very bad results. -- Bobby G. |
120V between Neutral and Ground
"RogerT" wrote in message ... RBM wrote: "Aaron" wrote in message ... On Mar 15, 10:50 pm, "Ralph Mowery" wrote: "Aaron" wrote in message ... I have been trying to trace down where a circuit starts showing voltage between my ground wire and neutral wire. I found the a receptacle on the circuit that is correct where the neutral and ground show 0V, and then a box which I believe is the next receptacle that shows 120V between the ground and neutral. I have looked in both boxes and everything looks correct. 1st Box H-N = 120V H-G = 120V N-G = 0V 2nd Box H-N = 120V H-G = 0V N-G = 120V What can cause the above scenario. A short? A broken wire? Also, is this dangerous? I think it has been like this for awhile. It looks like somewhere the neutral and the hot wires have been reversed. While you are probabaly not in danger of a meltdown, do not use the socket that has the faulty wiring. Also something else I just thought of. Downstream from the bad box, there is a light and the switch leg shows voltage between the neutral and the ground when the switch is off. More evidence that the black and white wires got reversed. This switch is now breaking the neutral, and the hot is going directly to the fixture. I am just curious...., If I had a situation like that (I don't), would one way to try to figure out where the wires got switched be to use a continuity checker? In other words, turn off all of the power and then use a continuity checker with a long wire and alligator clip attached, and try to trace which wire from the first box has continuity to which wire in the second box, etc. It's a little difficult. You have to disconnect the conductors from their line and any loads first. Otherwise you get backfeeds. The problem is that you don't have any good way of knowing that you've got everything disconnected. Branch circuit wiring generally goes, "as the crow flies", so you can usually find these problems by opening all related junction boxes in the vicinity of the problem |
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