Raphion
join:2000-10-14
Samsara | reply to psafux
Re: 4 volts on a 120v service?
I'd guess the neutral is open, and you're just seeing a bit of bleed to ground with that 4 volts. Check if you get normal voltage from hot to ground, if you do, it's definitely open neutral. |
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psafux
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VIP
join:2005-11-10
1 edit | Thanks guys, ill check that out.
Raphion: I could not get more than 4v out of several different ways of testing. I don't recall anymore if I tried hot to ground, I think so> Ill do more tomorrow.
The house was built in the early 30's, still has some 2 prong outlets :P We have been upgrading and bringing up to code as we go!
Tschmidt: Thanks for the detailed reply. I assume the switch and outlet are wired together. When the circuit breaker was turned off, everything went dead in the bathroom. All outlets, the vanity lights, I could not get 4v on the switch any longer.
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Yes. the cat in my avatar is indeed mine. |
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DonLibes
Premium,ExMod 2001
join:2003-01-19
| said by psafux  :I assume the switch and outlet are wired together. When the circuit breaker was turned off, everything went dead in the bathroom. All outlets, the vanity lights, I could not get 4v on the switch any longer. Logically, your assumption makes sense. In reality, circuit breakers can be affected by other circuit breakers. I suggest you temporarily drop your assumption of a shared circuit and explore the possibility that your light/fan is on a different circuit with a failing breaker. |
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psafux
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join:2005-11-10
| thanks for the reply. I have turned off every other breaker, short of the MAIN, and everything in the bathroom remained on, and 4 volts still registered at the switch in question.
Breaker #15 is the only circuit that turned off the bathroom in its entirety.
If I understand what you are saying, this would have ruled that out ?
Also - this morning I tested hot-ground, hot-neutral and both registered 4 volts. I am testing the wire not the terminal on the switch.
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Yes. the cat in my avatar is indeed mine. |
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DonLibes
Premium,ExMod 2001
join:2003-01-19
| said by psafux :thanks for the reply. I have turned off every other breaker, short of the MAIN, and everything in the bathroom remained on, and 4 volts still registered at the switch in question. Breaker #15 is the only circuit that turned off the bathroom in its entirety. If I understand what you are saying, this would have ruled that out ? Also - this morning I tested hot-ground, hot-neutral and both registered 4 volts. I am testing the wire not the terminal on the switch. That's reassuring. Now you should go back to tschmidt's hypotheses. |
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