120 volt circuit (Voltage Problem)

[james wuebker]

A friend just called me and told me he replaced a GCFI recep.. He was checking the voltage there and got 58v H-N, 73v H-G. He said the GFCI wouldn't trip out also. I gave him some ideas to check and thought maybe you guys have some that I didn't mention. I'll go out tommorow to check it out.
Thanks Guys!
Jim

 

[peter d]

Re: 120 volt circuit (Voltage Problem)

Sounds like an open neutral to me.

 

[charlie]

Re: 120 volt circuit (Voltage Problem)

I gotta agree with Peter on that one.

 

[james wuebker]

Re: 120 volt circuit (Voltage Problem)

peter d (Sounds like an open neutral to me.) If it was an open neutral I should still have 120v to ground but he doesn't.73v to ground.
Jim

 

[peter d]

Re: 120 volt circuit (Voltage Problem)

Originally posted by james wuebker:
If it was an open neutral I should still have 120v to ground but he doesn't.73v to ground.
Jim

Not necessarily. With an open neutral you now have a voltage divider (hopefully you remember what a voltage divider is. ) and depending on the load connected, the voltage is quite unpredictable.

 

[jimwalker]

Re: 120 volt circuit (Voltage Problem)

What makes you so sure the ground is any good or even there ? Try the reading with a small load like a light bulb.I say open neutral and a false ground

 

[james wuebker]

Re: 120 volt circuit (Voltage Problem)

I forgot to mention that he told me he had 120v on other circuits through out the house.
Jim

 

[jimwalker]

Re: 120 volt circuit (Voltage Problem)

Did he hook the receptacle to the load or the line side of the gfci ? If on load there is your problem and no it wont trip

 

[james wuebker]

Re: 120 volt circuit (Voltage Problem)

He checked the voltage without the wires hooked to the GFCI and got the lower voltages.Then had them hooked backup on the line side. I'm going out in the morning and let you guys know what I found. Thanks for some more ideas.
Bye now,
Jim

 

[LarryFine]

Re: 120 volt circuit (Voltage Problem)

This thread points out an advantage of a solenoid-type of tester over a volt-meter; loading. I'll bet at least some of these voltages are induced. I'd ask that a receptacle be connected temporarily, and voltage read with a load applied.

I would also suggest one of my favorite trouble-shooting tools: an extension cord plugged into a known-good circuit as hot, neutral, and EGC references, for use with the afore-mentioned solenoid tester.

[ October 12, 2005, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: LarryFine ]

 

[james wuebker]

Re: 120 volt circuit (Voltage Problem)

Larry, The extention idea was one of my first items to use.
Thanks
Jim