Jump to content

Home Electrical issue


Dzimm
 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 239
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

1 minute ago, Manche757 said:

Also using the first circuit, and  using the tester, touch the white neutral and the stove.  What reading do you get?

Stove to 1st circuit neutral = 0

Stove to 1st circuit box =.1v

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Manche757 said:

ok you have found the suspect circuit.  

Ok so it's circuit 2 that's the problem?  Since the boxes are tied together it makes it seem like it's circuit 1?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lets label them circuit 1 and circuit 2.  The first being the one that you had a zero read on.  Circuit  1 looks to be ok.  

 

Circuit 2.  Ground is energized and now to find out where.  To confirm you got a 1 volt read with the circuit breaker off?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unplug everything on circuit 2.  You might not know where that goes through your house.  In 1969, there might have been only 2 or 3 120v circuits for the entire house.  With the breaker for circuit 2 off,  do the same test again.  Tester to black and white at receptacle and tester to white and to stove.  With the 1volt read, it is possible that a lamp or other low draw appliance is providing the feedback 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Circuit 1 breaker on

Circuit 2 breaker off

Circuit 1 box to stove is 4.2v

Circuit 1 box to neutral is 4.2v

Circuit 2 box to stove is 0.3v

Circuit 2 box to neutral is 0.3v

 

Both breakers off 

Circuit 1 box to stove is 0.1v

Circuit 1 box to neutral is 0.1v

Circuit 2 box to stove is 0.1v

Circuit 2 box to neutral is 0.1v

 

 

Circuit 1 breaker off

Circuit 2 breaker on

Circuit 1 box to stove is 0.7v

Circuit 1 box to neutral is 0.7v

Circuit 2 box to stove is 2.0v

Circuit 2 box to neutral is 2.0v

 

The only thing plugged in as far as I know is the fridge on circuit 2.  We moved it from 1 to 2 because we left 1 off overnight.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just realized this fuse box with a switch under the sink is tied into circuit 2.  NVM realized this is to the dishwasher.  Doesn't change the voltage readings weather it's switched on or off.

15607885965706951724911960383121.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, Manche757 said:

In that last pic, are there 2 white single wires?   What are they connected to?

Yes.  They connect to nothing.  When we moved in we bumped one during the dishwasher install and it arched on the water pipes.  It however doesn't show voltage with the proximity tester with all breakers on.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, Manche757 said:

Good job getting the test reads.  Confusing results though suggest grounding in different circuits.  Test voltage from stove to cold water pipe.   

Stove to water pipes is 0v

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, Dzimm said:

Stove to water pipes is 0v

That is good.  Stove circuit is ok.  Stove itself is ok.  That is a 50 amp circuit.  Amps, not voltage, is what kills people.  So the stove and circuit is not leaking power.  It is providing ground from the leaking ground in the wall circuits.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, Dzimm said:

Yes.  They connect to nothing.  When we moved in we bumped one during the dishwasher install and it arched on the water pipes.  It however doesn't show voltage with the proximity tester with all breakers on.  

It if arched, it is hot.  Are the ends of the two (are both white as it looks in the pic?)  exposed and not taped off?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, Manche757 said:

It if arched, it is hot.  Are the ends of the two (are both white as it looks in the pic?)  exposed and not taped off?

We capped them, they weren't when we moved in.  

 

Ive got an extension cord ran from a living room circuit to test with and found neutral on that to the water pipe is fluctuating between 0v and 0.5v

Link to comment
Share on other sites

37 minutes ago, Manche757 said:

With the extension cord, you were able to figure out which end of the extension plug is neutral?  The assumption is that you have copper pipes and not pvc or pec

Yeah the cord is polarized but just realized it's wired backwards (someone changed the plug at one point) so that's a different problem.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 minutes ago, Manche757 said:

that living room circuit is likely on one of the two kitchen circuits. Are the two white wires that you capped off connected?

What do you mean connected?  And the living room circuit is a different breaker entirely.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So I went through every breaker in the house and tested with the probe on a circuit 1 receptical box and a probe on the receptical neutral.  

 

Constant - All breakers ON = 4.6v

Breaker 24 off = 4.6-4.7v fluctuating

Breaker 2/4 off = 4.6-4.7v fluctuating

Breaker 21/23 off = 4.6-4.7v fluctuating

Breaker 16 off = 4.7

Breaker 12 off = 4.7v

Breaker 17/19 off = 4.7v

Breaker 15 off = 4.7v

Breaker 11/13 off = 4.7v

Breaker 1 off = 4.7v

Breaker 10 off = 4.6v

Breaker 22 (circuit 1) off = 0.6-0.7v fluctuating

Breaker 20 off = 5.2-5.3v fluctuating

Breaker 18 off = 4.3v

Breaker 6 off = 4.3v

Breaker 14 (circuit 2) off = 4.1-4.2v

 

Constant - Breaker 22 (circuit 1) OFF = 0.6-0.7v fluctuating

Breaker 24 off = 0.7v

Breaker 2/4 off = 0.7v 

Breaker 21/23 off = 0.7v

Breaker 16 off = 0.7v

Breaker 12 off = 0.7v

Breaker 17/19 off = 0.7v

Breaker 15 off = 0.7v

Breaker 11/13 off = 0.7v

Breaker 1 off = 0.7v

Breaker 10 off = 0.6-0.7 fluctuating

Breaker 20 off = 1.4v

Breaker 18 off = 0.3v

Breaker 6 off = 0.2v

Breaker 14 (circuit 2) off = 0v

 

Constant - Breaker 14 (circuit 2) OFF = 4.1v

Breaker 24 off = 4.1-4.2v fluctuating

Breaker 2/4 off = 4.1-4.2v fluctuating

Breaker 17/19 off = 4.1-4.2v fluctuating

Breaker 10 off = 4.1-4.2v fluctuating

Breaker 21/23 off = 4.2v

Breaker 16 off = 4.2v

Breaker 12 off = 4.2v

Breaker 15 off = 4.2v

Breaker 11/13 off = 4.2v

Breaker 1 off = 4.2v

Breaker 20 off = 4.8v

Breaker 18 off = 3.8v

Breaker 6 off = 3.8v

Breaker 22 (circuit 1) off = 0v

 

According to this, I'm assuming +/- 0.1v is okay, this would mean these circuits are suspect:

- Breaker 22 (circuit 1)

- Breaker 14 (circuit 2) 

- Breaker 20 

- Breaker 18

- Breaker 6

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So testing breaker 6, meter still on circuit 1 outlet neutral and receptical box.  This breaker has an outside outlet, and two garage outlets.  Plugged in is garage door opener, deep freeze, box fan, and sump pump.  

 

Unplugging everything individually results in no change except the garage door opener drops it 0.2v so there must be backfeed there.  

 

Switching breaker 6 off, it drops by 0.4v matching what is above.

 

Could we say it's safe to rule out breaker 6?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share


×
×
  • Create New...