Double tapped neutral??

[Fmkehoe]

I was over a friends house the other day and he mentioned that his outside spot lights stopped working. Long story short, there is no longer 120v in the fixtures but there is about 30 volts thru the neutral. He recently had someone put a 220 dryer outlet in. Could that person have tapped into the exterior lights neutral causing the situation?

 

[ptonsparky]

Almost everything is possible. Not likely, but possible.

Explain in detail how you used your meter to determine the 30 volts Thru the neutral.

Is there a photocell involved?
Motion sensing?
Meter used?

etc.

 

[Fmkehoe]

Almost everything is possible. Not likely, but possible.

Explain in detail how you used your meter to determine the 30 volts Thru the neutral.

Is there a photocell involved?
Motion sensing?
Meter used?

etc.

Using multimeter, neutral to hot, minimal, I don’t remember how much. Neutral to ground, 30 Volts.
I will ask him to double check the numbers.

 

[kwired]

Using multimeter, neutral to hot, minimal, I don’t remember how much. Neutral to ground, 30 Volts.
I will ask him to double check the numbers.

That is somewhat important to know, or at least knowing if it is say 20-40 volts 40-70 or 70-90 volts.

Be nice to verify if there is full voltage from hot to ground also.

 

[Fmkehoe]

That is somewhat important to know, or at least knowing if it is say 20-40 volts 40-70 or 70-90 volts.

Be nice to verify if there is full voltage from hot to ground also.

going to try to get there today. Will keep y’all posted.

 

[ptonsparky]

Make sure your ground is a proven, good Equipment Ground.

 

[K8MHZ]

Using multimeter, neutral to hot, minimal, I don’t remember how much. Neutral to ground, 30 Volts.
I will ask him to double check the numbers.

Digital multimeter?

 

[jumper]

Digital multimeter?

You thinking phantom/ghost voltage?

 

[LarryFine]

You thinking phantom/ghost voltage?

I suggest determining whether it's the neutral or the EGC that is not zero volts to earth by comparing each to a known reference.

 

[K8MHZ]

You thinking phantom/ghost voltage?

I never rule out that possibility and always re-check voltages that are not 0 or expected line voltages with a low impedance meter.

 

[K8MHZ]

I suggest determining whether it's the neutral or the EGC that is not zero volts to earth by comparing each to a known reference.

Testing to a known reference is the only way to go. Sometimes it takes making and EGC extension cord from the panel to tote from room to room, which I have done to solve some strange switched neutral problems.

 

[ActionDave]

Testing to a known reference is the only way to go. Sometimes it takes making and EGC extension cord from the panel to tote from room to room, which I have done to solve some strange switched neutral problems.

I wire up or plug in the whole extension cord to a known, good reference.

 

[K8MHZ]

I wire up or plug in the whole extension cord to a known, good reference.

In order to be sure of the good reference one must start at the main panel. There are known good references, suspected good references and proven good references. I have had all of those only exist in the main because of open wiring and had to drag a 100' extension cord around the house to check all the receptacles. There are just too many instances where meters can be fooled without a hard reference.

 

[ActionDave]

In order to be sure of the good reference one must start at the main panel. There are known good references, suspected good references and proven good references. I have had all of those only exist in the main because of open wiring and had to drag a 100' extension cord around the house to check all the receptacles. There are just too many instances where meters can be fooled without a hard reference.

:thumbsup:

 

[ptonsparky]

Don’t just tie onto the SE enclosure, or a water line. They may not be bonded.