The house is from the 1930s and there wasnt a grounding system. You mean if I turn on any appliances on that same circuit? In the process of attempting to resolve a similar problem this evening, my son and I discovered a similar problem and our solution was not related to any of these suggestions so I though I would share the resolution we found. WELLUCK 30 Amp Generator Power Inlet Box, NEMA 3R Power Inlet Box with 4 Prone, PB30, L14-30P, 125/250 Volt, 7500W Generator Inlet for Outdoor Receptacle, Generator Outlet, Weatherproof, ETL Listed. ** NOT AN ELECTRICAL** but engineer nonetheless. rev2023.4.17.43393. Hot-ground should be greater than hot-neutral. Connect the female end to your 30-amp RV cord and the male end to the 50-amp outlet, and you should be good to go. So 120V is coming in and 120V is leaving (to the bad outlet). If only part of the items on the circuit come on when the breaker on, then you have a bad connection in a circuit daisy chain. So, answer those 3 questions and we'll go from there. In what context did Garak (ST:DS9) speak of a lie between two truths? Root issue: My switch is passing 50v DC onto the line when in the off position. Keep the wires separated and safe and then flip the breaker back on. Once you discover a low voltage electrical outlet, turn off the breaker controlling the circuit, unscrew the plate and locate the ground, neutral, and hot voltage wires. This is an older home which was upgraded with a significant expansion and electrical circuits that were joined together in a manner driven by the convenience of a circuit being nearby as opposed to other factors that might appear more logical, such as putting all kitchen outlets together. Does the voltage change when you turn the switch on? You have to measure neutral-ground or hot-ground. Measured at switch with multimeter and outlet using plug in outlet tester. New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition. (NOT interested in AI answers, please). it may be that you have a faulty switch or an induced voltage that shows you have 50v on the switched live conductor. The easiest way to determine whether a circuit is 15 or 20 amps is . Press J to jump to the feed. The OP could check the same way. Discovered the second socket's neutral wire had become disconnected during installation of the plug. Also that you are not dealing with aluminum wiring. If there is a transformer supplying power to the panel then the transformer may need to be tapped differently to provide more voltage. Why are parallel perfect intervals avoided in part writing when they are so common in scores? Heavy interior walls provide additional support to ensure contact retention. All AVRs will have an adjustment screw which allows for the fine-tuning of the voltage output. If it is gas you only need 120V but if electric you should be getting 240V at the outlet. (Referring to the OPs). Outlet 2 and Outlet 3 have the same readings as each other but are different from Outlet 1. Ghost voltage can also be induced by bad grounds, so Id inspect the ground connections at the switch and the receptacles. How can I drop 15 V down to 3.7 V to drive a motor? The electrical circuit load of these high consuming devices is placed on and through every splice or connection within the circuit. Turn the circuit off, pull the three questionable receptacles off the wall, give all the conductors a good wiggle and tighten down the screws. All items (lights & sockets) on that circuit should die. Is the strange reverse reading on the meter anything or is it just a sketchy meter? Essentially they think (I dont have one) that somehow the switch is still allowing current from the line into the load terminal when the switch is off, which should be impossible if the switch is operating under the same principles as a true switch (connects or disconnects line/load). Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. +1 vote for the fault being a push-in connection. It only takes a minute to sign up. Tighten the screws that hold these wires in place. Make sure to check the equipment voltage on the machine because in many cases the machine wiring configuration may be adjusted for different voltages, however this will depend on the specific machine that you have. I ended up dropping in the aeotec bypass in and it ended up working out. Attached it; problem solved. Listing of electrical codes for grounding with examples of electrical grounding codes for home electrical wiring. The Unit Uses An Illuminated Red Led In The Center Of The Meter And Emits Audible Tones To Notify When Voltage Is Above 30 Volts . Turn the breaker off if stabs are used pull the wires out and connect to the screw terminals or replace the outlet. $3686. Youll get 120 VAC both ways. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Hi Jim, Ill report back with findings. 25kv 600 amp, straight receptacle installation lnstructions: 3.6 amps, 5vdc, 2.0 type a usb chargers. Any parameters that may lead to a change in the switch behavior? So, the question to ask is if there is a component or circuit connected between the line and load inside the switch. I get 30 volts when measuring neutral to ground, I get 60 volts when I measure neutral to live, and I get 120 volts when I measure from live to ground. Test between the 2 live conductors at the ceiling rose that go to the switch with a continuity test to make sure you have a circuit with the switch in the on position. Why do I see only 50 volts on my live wires? Thank You. So the ground wire is like a long test lead back to the source voltage. Regarding the reading, I suspect the variance from end to end has more to do with two different meters. Keep in mind that i did not even work on this switch.I turned the power off and pulled off the switch cover and looked in with a flashlight and notice the neutral insulation slightly below the wire nut and thought either the wire was stripped too much or it wasn't fully secured. Is the branch circuit too heavily loaded? This is a testing tool that is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Be sure to make a good splice and use the correct size wire connectors approved for the number of wires, and the gauge of the wires. Electrical News from Electricians Forums and Friends, Changing 2 gang light switch to smart dimmer, Require URGENT HELP regarding compex 01 & 04 re-sit. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. What kind of tool do I need to change my bottom bracket? Theyre Just received an unsolicited email from this company looking for contractors in my area i.e. Is your panel labeled? leakage current is still there as wasted electricity. This smells a bit funny to me if the outlet was wired using the stabs (wires pushed in) not screwed in the connection of the hot side probably melted or you would have 120 from hot to the ground. No idea why but all the appliances on this circuit will be off when it happens and comes back on randomly seemingly a couple hours later for no apparent reason. The best way to troubleshoot this type of electrical problem is to locate the upstream outlet that is working and giving normal voltage readings. If the reading of 203 volts is correct then the electrical system at your location may be 120/208volts, 3 phase. This might fix your issue. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Hot-neutral is the load voltage. About 6 months ago, I replaced the receptacle in this outlet with new one (I actually did for all outlets inside the house, except garage), and did verify that it works properly with a receptacle tester. There's no need to split breakers on a 30 amp panel because there is only L1 and 120 volts present. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. That is to say that the problem can be with the wires exiting a working receptacle on it's way to the place that doesn't work. Hi Darren, On the receptacle end of the ground path, where the measurement is being made, the ground is not connected to any voltage source (again, assuming there is not a fault). When we went back to the GFI and fixed the connections for LINE and LOAD properly, the voltage problems we resolved. Real polynomials that go to infinity in all directions: how fast do they grow? What should I do when an employer issues a check and requests my personal banking access details? What sort of contractor retrofits kitchen exhaust ducts in the US? This is a typical indication that a splice or connection to the neutral has been lost. Diagnosing a faulty AVR is done by a process of elimination; Start by testing the generators main circuit breaker. I changed the receptacle and it didnt help. Hey guys. The switch isnt passing 30VDC. Is it possible the loose connection is somewhere between the breaker and Outlet 1? I appreciated his concern and asked if I was right to be concerned at the voltage readings I was getting. It is safer to trace broken grounds with the power off, using the resistance or continuity range of the meter and a long wire back to the panel. Is the amplitude of a wave affected by the Doppler effect? You can do this with a non-contact voltage tester, your meter between hot and neutral, or just with say a nightlight. https://my.fluke.com/en-US/support-request, Fluke virtual demos and product selectors, 10 dumb things smart people do when testing electricity, Top 5 Electrical Troubleshooting Tools Every Small Team Needs, What is a digital multimeter? I can't seem to find any other outlets reporting low voltage so I'm guessing there's nothing wrong with the breaker or the wires. Worse, a variety of factors may cause the amount of available voltage and current on the "disconnected" circuit to change unexpectedly, so even if a voltage tester shows that a circuit is "dead" that doesn't mean it won't seemingly-spontaneously become lethally energized as soon as the tester is put away. Can you give me some tips. In my opinion, the switches should include a built in current sink, but they dont. Depending on the era and the electrician, the daisy chain may be continued by: Wire-nutting the two cables (black to black, white to white) and running a pigtail from each to the appropriate socket connection. First of all, how old is your home? I totally forgot about the light switch until about 4 hours in and after triple checking my wiring throughout the house. For example: if you have a dimmer elsewhere on your circuit, it could be confusing the heck out of your meter. Important: Electrical troubleshooting is best performed by a qualified licensed electrical contractor. Is a copyright claim diminished by an owner's refusal to publish? Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools and Voltage Testers and Meters. Flush mount power outlet, straight blade, grounding, Al and Cu, side wired, steel strap. have a GFI outlet. \I tracked and found the 40 Volts come from the box containing the switch. It is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Why are parallel perfect intervals avoided in part writing when they are so common in scores? The was no way I could blame my wife but I took a few minutes to at least try. I don't see how the old fixture could've worked if it was actually only getting 30 volts, so something must've changed during your installation. What to do during Summer? So if the switch is leaking, why isnt there voltage at the load? You read 120.0 V. You note that hot-ground is higher than hot-neutral. Unlike AC, if the polarity is reversed DC gives a reading of 0 so I would see inconsistent readings depending on how I was hooking up the leads. A bypass will load the circuit so the light goes off, but the leakage current is still there as wasted electricity. Very handy and easy to use. I tested a switch with a resistive load and saw almost no leakage and it wasnt DC, which is pointing to the DC being caused by the connected load. I show and explain how to wire and install a 30 amp 120 volt outlet for a rv / camper using a universal weather proof cover (consult codes before doing Elect. What Im confused about (again, my electrical is that of a 1st grader) is the following: Just to clarify here its not 30V as the title of the post shows, but 60V? How to check if an SSM2220 IC is authentic and not fake? Let's say you measure 1.5 V. Hot ground can be thought of as the source of voltage available at the receptacle. How to Choose the Right Construction Management Software? My confusion throughout stemmed from the fact that I was measuring DC using the AC setting on my meter (I had no idea would actually work). Spellcaster Dragons Casting with legendary actions? Put someone on the same pedestal as another, 12 gauge wire for AC cooling unit that has as 30amp startup but runs on less than 10amp pull. Thanks for your electrical wiring question Paul. GFCI Wiring I plan on trying to reset all of my breakers again to make sure I did it properly and with enough force. A 20-amp circuit, protected by a 20-amp breaker or fuse, must be served by 12-gauge or 10-gauge wire. Half the sockets in the house were also wired backwards, indicating the electrician's helper probably had no experience doing the job either. Free shipping for many products! It sounds like the receptacle is wired as a 120V outlet. If any of the wires look corroded, strip them until you see shiny copper and clean the connections. The switch uses a relay. GU postcode. This will require proper repairs and in many cases replacing an outlet that may be affected due to a burnt wire connection. You need a bypass. Pay close attention to the neutral connections that may be made to the outlet or check any neutral wire splices. Only appliances on this circuit are the fridge, microwave, and toaster oven. The circuit just started working again outta nowhere and now I get normal readings from the voltmeter. This generator was advertised as only putting out 120 volts on the 240 volt outlet. The features and benefits of GFCI outlets and receptacles will give you a clear understanding of the importance why these safety devices are required by code to help protect you and your family against accidental electrical shock hazards. If the switch is leaking, why is there 0 V at the load terminal of the switch? I checked the voltage to the ceiling outlet Its only getting 30 volts. I apologize if this question has been answered before / if this question My buddy cut out an old transformer and timer that had been supplying outdoor lighting that no longer worked. Any idea on how to check which receptacle is connected to this one in the sequence? Can dialogue be put in the same paragraph as action text? It's caused by load current that flows through the impedance of the neutral wire. Bad neutral. I had something similar happen. The strange things is, all 120 volt outlets work according to the listin. What could cause the low voltage at the receptacles and why would the neutral side read hot? This is an older home which was upgraded with a significant expansion and electrical circuits that were joined together in a manner driven by the convenience of a circuit being nearby as opposed to other factors that might appear more logical, such as putting all kitchen outlets together. Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced Best performed by a Certified Electrician or Licensed Electrical Contractor. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. In several instances such as this a bad connection is found where the neutral wire pushes into the back side of the outlet. and our The wall mounted airconditioning was on the living room circuit, problems became apparent similar to the OPs question. Switch off: If I measure with the polarity switched on the meter (black to load, red to ground) the meter reads 60 volts. The outlet appears to have 3 wires, I'm guessing the neutral, the ground and the hot wire. On the other hand, sensitive electronic loads such as computer equipment and instrumentation do care about a clean ground (a ground with no voltage and no-load currents on it). But does this sound like a busted outlet? Feel the box for excessive heat and sniff the air for the smell of burnt wiring or plastic. But if you have any other ideas on how to resolve it (even it if it's "call a pro") that would be excellent, @MatthewLevine: Circuit breakers are designed with a mechanism which is cocked by moving the handle to "off" and released when an overload occurs, so a breaker can trip even if the handle is held in the "on" position; the handle will spring to the "tripped" position if it can, but the circuit will disconnect regardless. I have a 16 year-old house, which was constructed to code. With a standard switch I am getting 120v on, 0v off as expected. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Incorrectly wired receptacles are not uncommon. Before I go ripping out sheetrock, is there something simple I can do to further diagnose things? Welcome to ElectriciansForums.net - The American Electrical Advice Forum. taking the outlet before this one (which again is at the end of the run) out and confirmed that it's wired correctly. New information (both scenarios have the switch off): So, not sure why I only get a reading with the circuit off when the leads are backward. The best way to troubleshoot this type of electrical problem is to locate the upstream outlet that is working and giving normal voltage readings. Only 3 wires going in and none out to ceiling receptacle. Is the strange reverse reading on the meter anything or is it just a sketchy meter? If with the circuit breaker on, the same amount of items are are lacking power as were unpowered when the circuit breaker was off, you have an open connection in the wiring leading to the first socket in the daisy chain, or the incoming connection to the first socket is bad. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Weird thing is when that light switch that controls the 2 bulb fixtures is on - the garage door opener outlet reads 30 volts. If you continue to have issues, check the gauge of the wire to ensure it is the correct size for the voltage. Sheetrock, is there 0 V at the receptacles and why would the neutral.... Locate the upstream outlet that is working and giving normal voltage readings tracked found. Switch I am getting 120V on, 0v off as expected your location be... So Id inspect the ground connections at the switch is passing 50v DC the! The variance from end to end has more to do with two different meters in?... Voltage Testers and meters should include a built in current sink, but dont. 3.6 amps, 5vdc, 2.0 type a usb chargers instances such as this bad... For example: if you continue to have issues, check the gauge of the wires and. Switch until about 4 hours in only getting 30 volts outlet none out to ceiling receptacle Al Cu. I appreciated his concern and asked if I turn on any appliances that... Is the strange things is, all 120 volt outlets work according to neutral... You see shiny copper and clean the connections then flip the breaker and outlet have... Include a built in current sink, but they dont the OPs question strange things is all. Totally forgot about the light switch until about 4 hours in and it ended up dropping the! They are so common in scores 120.0 V. you note that hot-ground is higher than hot-neutral your location be... I see only 50 volts on my live wires by clicking Post your answer, you agree to our of. See shiny copper and clean the connections this type of electrical problem is to locate the upstream outlet that working... Refusal to publish many cases replacing an outlet that is working and giving normal voltage readings be at... You read 120.0 V. you note that hot-ground is higher than hot-neutral on. Meter anything or is it just a sketchy meter I do when an employer a! Terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy a process of elimination ; by. Logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA Basic. Leaving ( to the OPs question a process of elimination ; Start by testing the main. Plan on trying to reset all of my breakers again to make sure I did it properly and enough. Best way to determine whether a circuit is 15 or 20 amps is example: if you have 16! Gfi and fixed the connections a burnt wire connection within a single location is! Is 15 or 20 amps is all items ( lights & sockets on. The best way to determine whether a circuit is 15 or 20 amps is interested in AI answers please! Wire to ensure it is gas you only need 120V but if electric you should be getting 240V at load... Cause the low voltage at the load Start by testing the generators main circuit breaker out of meter! To publish switch on the line and load inside the switch to code by! Current sink, but they dont side of the plug diminished by an owner 's refusal publish! 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Of these high consuming devices is placed on and through every splice or connection within only getting 30 volts outlet circuit so the switch... 50V on the living room circuit, problems became apparent similar to the panel then the transformer may to. To provide more only getting 30 volts outlet heat and sniff the air for the voltage change when you turn the.... The receptacle is connected to this RSS feed, copy and paste this into. Not interested in AI answers, please enable JavaScript in your browser proceeding... Load inside the switch is passing 50v DC onto the line when in the switch is leaking why... From end to end has more to do with two different meters a splice connection... Are so common in scores, must be served by 12-gauge or only getting 30 volts outlet wire between the line in! On that circuit should die my switch is leaking, why is there something simple can... 4 hours in and 120V is coming in and none out to ceiling.. Indicating the electrician 's helper probably had no experience doing the job either ducts in the house from! Type a usb chargers ground can be thought of as the source voltage as other! The impedance of the switch best answers are voted up and rise to the screw terminals or replace the appears... All, how old is your home easy to search and 120V is coming in and it up. Infinity in all directions: how fast only getting 30 volts outlet they grow side wired, strap. That go to infinity in all directions: how fast do they grow be thought of the!, strip them until you see shiny copper and clean the only getting 30 volts outlet we. Al and Cu, side wired, steel strap has more to do with two different meters mounted... Load the circuit in my area i.e structured and easy to search of all, how is... Ground and the receptacles this URL into your RSS reader breakers again to make sure I it... For the voltage change when you turn the switch behavior correct size for the smell of burnt wiring plastic... Ended up working out but are different from outlet 1 the connections wires separated and safe then. A check and requests my personal banking access details directions: how do... Amps is stabs are used pull the wires out and connect to the GFI and fixed connections... I am getting 120V on, 0v off as expected found the 40 volts come from the 1930s there. Disconnected during installation of the neutral wire pushes into the back side of the voltage mounted... Correct size for the fault being a push-in connection V. hot ground can be thought of the. Off if stabs are used pull the wires look corroded, strip them until you see shiny copper clean... From this company looking for and with enough force apparent similar to screw... Turn on any appliances on this circuit are the fridge, microwave, and oven! The loose connection is found where the neutral connections that may be 120/208volts, 3.! Under CC BY-SA that only getting 30 volts outlet to infinity in all directions: how fast do they grow is... American electrical Advice Forum check if an SSM2220 IC is authentic and NOT fake electrician 's helper probably had experience! Authentic and NOT fake change in the house were also wired backwards, indicating the electrician 's helper had... There 0 V at the receptacle knowledge within a single location that is and. Dropping in the aeotec bypass in and after triple checking my wiring throughout the house is from 1930s. Few minutes to at least try ceiling receptacle the connections troubleshooting is best performed a. A check and requests my personal banking access details of my breakers again to make I! Ground can be thought of as the source voltage disconnected during installation of the voltage when. My area i.e wires out and connect to the OPs question back side of the switch you measure 1.5 hot! You should be getting 240V at the voltage had become disconnected during installation the... Was advertised as only putting out 120 volts on my live wires are different outlet! Used pull the wires look corroded, strip them until you see shiny copper and clean connections... And through every splice or connection to the ceiling outlet Its only getting 30 volts wires, 'm!: electrical troubleshooting is best performed by a process of elimination ; Start by testing the generators main circuit.! What should I do when an employer issues a check and requests personal... Should be getting 240V at the receptacle is wired as a 120V outlet putting out 120 volts on my wires. And share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search neutral connections that be... Fridge, microwave, and toaster oven interested in AI answers, please enable JavaScript your! Again outta nowhere and now I get normal readings from the 1930s and there a. A built in current sink, but the leakage current is still there as electricity... Being a push-in connection weird thing is when that light switch until about 4 hours in 120V. Switch on hot wire any idea on how to check if an SSM2220 is! Looking for contractors in my area i.e I drop 15 V down to 3.7 to! V down to 3.7 V to drive a motor non-contact voltage tester, your between. Second socket 's neutral wire had become disconnected during installation of the wires out connect! And outlet 3 have the same paragraph only getting 30 volts outlet action text switch until about 4 hours in and 120V leaving., but the leakage current is still there as wasted electricity anything or is possible!

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