rcarroll
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Collins, Colorado
Has anyone out there used a plug tester (monkey face) in a 120v 15 or 20 amp receptacle, only to find out the recep was wired 220? If so, what was the outcome? Thanks for your replies. Ron
Dumb question but I'm serious
- Thread starter rcarroll
- Start date
- Status
rcarroll
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Collins, Colorado
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
Yes, the testers with the 3 LED lights. I'm curious which, if any lights would light up & then if the tester would be any good after.
Yes, the testers with the 3 LED lights. I'm curious which, if any lights would light up & then if the tester would be any good after.
physis
Senior Member
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
Without knowing the actual wiring I can only guess that if you get it out of there fast you have a fair chance it will survive.
Edit: I've got a Greenlee that never did work. Maybe I'll take it apart later and I'll be able to give you a more definitive answer.
[ June 02, 2005, 05:41 PM: Message edited by: physis ]
Without knowing the actual wiring I can only guess that if you get it out of there fast you have a fair chance it will survive.
Edit: I've got a Greenlee that never did work. Maybe I'll take it apart later and I'll be able to give you a more definitive answer.
[ June 02, 2005, 05:41 PM: Message edited by: physis ]
paul
Senior Member
- Location
- Snohomish, WA
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
Who wants to be the guinea pig and conduct the experiment????
Who wants to be the guinea pig and conduct the experiment????
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
I just tried it with my little yellow one (brand unknown, label too worn). The neon lamps in the tester glowed more brightly, but the tester didn't seem to suffer any ill effects.
I just tried it with my little yellow one (brand unknown, label too worn). The neon lamps in the tester glowed more brightly, but the tester didn't seem to suffer any ill effects.
southernboys
Senior Member
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
dumb question maybe im too residential minded but would it even fit in a 220 plug im thinking dryer or range also thats why I always check with my meter just the way I came up in the trade either meter it out or work it hot
dumb question maybe im too residential minded but would it even fit in a 220 plug im thinking dryer or range also thats why I always check with my meter just the way I came up in the trade either meter it out or work it hot
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2023
- Occupation
- Hospital Master Electrician
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
Ron, in Greeley we had an apartment with a 15-amp bb heater out in the closet on the porch. Well, one thing led to another, and the panel got trimmed out wrong.
When I plugged into the living room, all three lights came on. Pretty interesting.
Actually funny, it happened in two different units. The other one was "Main Lighting". I walked into a bathroom to start hot-checking, and it was a little bright. Yelling a drawn-out version of my favorite profanity, I turned and ran for the panel, as the bulbs in the vanity started exploding behind me.
Ah, love apartments.
Ron, in Greeley we had an apartment with a 15-amp bb heater out in the closet on the porch. Well, one thing led to another, and the panel got trimmed out wrong.
When I plugged into the living room, all three lights came on. Pretty interesting.
Actually funny, it happened in two different units. The other one was "Main Lighting". I walked into a bathroom to start hot-checking, and it was a little bright. Yelling a drawn-out version of my favorite profanity, I turned and ran for the panel, as the bulbs in the vanity started exploding behind me.
Ah, love apartments.
allenwayne
Senior Member
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
The prefix of OOOOHHHHH was there but I think the suffix was spelt differently
The prefix of OOOOHHHHH was there but I think the suffix was spelt differently
southernboys
Senior Member
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
Talk To Me George What Exactly Did Your Helper Do To YOU Neutral Hooked To a Breaker?
Talk To Me George What Exactly Did Your Helper Do To YOU Neutral Hooked To a Breaker?
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
S--- happens job security
S--- happens
job security
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2023
- Occupation
- Hospital Master Electrician
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
Sorry, clarity: 240V baseboard heater, on a 14-2.
Accidentally, the living room homerun was nabbed for the 2-pole breaker.
Sorry, clarity: 240V baseboard heater, on a 14-2.
Accidentally, the living room homerun was nabbed for the 2-pole breaker.
rcarroll
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Collins, Colorado
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
Thanks for the input, I would believe that when we hot check receps, we would know right away that they are miswired, including wrong voltage.
Thanks for the input, I would believe that when we hot check receps, we would know right away that they are miswired, including wrong voltage.
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
These have either Neon lights, or LED's. I think it is possible for either to survive 220 volts (but it would depend on how long it was plugged in, and the values of resistance used - like Physis said).
To picture a schematic of one of these testers, draw the 3 wires to the receptacle - line, neutral, and ground. Draw a green light between line and ground, and a green light between line and neutral. Draw a red light between neutral and ground. (Assume the lights are 120v, and don't need resistors, and assume they can survive 220volts.)
If the outlet was wired with 220V, then the neutral would be conected to a second phase. The two green lights would still light (somewhat brightly) and the red light would also light up at normal brightness. Thus, you would know something was wrong by the red light.
Steve
[ June 03, 2005, 01:09 PM: Message edited by: steve66 ]
These have either Neon lights, or LED's. I think it is possible for either to survive 220 volts (but it would depend on how long it was plugged in, and the values of resistance used - like Physis said).
To picture a schematic of one of these testers, draw the 3 wires to the receptacle - line, neutral, and ground. Draw a green light between line and ground, and a green light between line and neutral. Draw a red light between neutral and ground. (Assume the lights are 120v, and don't need resistors, and assume they can survive 220volts.)
If the outlet was wired with 220V, then the neutral would be conected to a second phase. The two green lights would still light (somewhat brightly) and the red light would also light up at normal brightness. Thus, you would know something was wrong by the red light.
Steve
[ June 03, 2005, 01:09 PM: Message edited by: steve66 ]
physis
Senior Member
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
Oh, man. Mine's neon too. So I'm not gonna bother taking it apart. Neons have always used 33k resistors for 110. (I didn't mean 120, it's been that long since I've played with 'em).
I've never burnt up any neons though. I don't how much current they can take. I'd wager that 240 wouldn't hurt the neon receptacle checkers.
There aren't many components I haven't gotten around to torturing to death over the last thirty+ years. I'm already feeling disappointed that I don't know what I'll need to do to destroy a neon bulb.
It's not like I "have to" find out how much abuse they can take.
Besides, I don't have parts bins and drawers like I did eons ago. I'd have to take things apart, put together make shift test stuff.
Edit: Missing word error.
[ June 03, 2005, 09:02 PM: Message edited by: physis ]
Oh, man. Mine's neon too. So I'm not gonna bother taking it apart. Neons have always used 33k resistors for 110. (I didn't mean 120, it's been that long since I've played with 'em).
I've never burnt up any neons though. I don't how much current they can take. I'd wager that 240 wouldn't hurt the neon receptacle checkers.
There aren't many components I haven't gotten around to torturing to death over the last thirty+ years. I'm already feeling disappointed that I don't know what I'll need to do to destroy a neon bulb.
It's not like I "have to" find out how much abuse they can take.
Besides, I don't have parts bins and drawers like I did eons ago. I'd have to take things apart, put together make shift test stuff.
Edit: Missing word error.
[ June 03, 2005, 09:02 PM: Message edited by: physis ]
rcarroll
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Collins, Colorado
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
Well I had to ask, cuz 3 years ago I did a final insp. on a small addition. The work was a DIY'R. I did not do the rough inspections so I have no idea on the wiring. My tester showed all receps ok. Now there are problems & new H/O hired an ec who said there is 240v to receps. Sounds possibly like a mistie in box or lost neut on a multi-wire ckt. Anyway, I have to confirm the problem & go from there. Again, I thank you all for your help. Ron
Well I had to ask, cuz 3 years ago I did a final insp. on a small addition. The work was a DIY'R. I did not do the rough inspections so I have no idea on the wiring. My tester showed all receps ok. Now there are problems & new H/O hired an ec who said there is 240v to receps. Sounds possibly like a mistie in box or lost neut on a multi-wire ckt. Anyway, I have to confirm the problem & go from there. Again, I thank you all for your help. Ron
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: Dumb question but I'm serious
Rcarroll
Being that the original work was performed by a DIYer three years ago, who knows what may have occurred since then. So it may not be your tester or skill level.
Rcarroll
Being that the original work was performed by a DIYer three years ago, who knows what may have occurred since then. So it may not be your tester or skill level.
- Status