Jerramundi
Senior Member
- Location
- Chicago
- Occupation
- Licensed Residential Electrician
Hey guys,
I just came across a bit of a brain teaser that I thought you all might find interesting and I wanted to get some input on it...
Here is a simple diagram of the situation:
Sump Outlet (II) ---------- Mid Outlet (II) ---------- Mid Outlet (II) ---------- Homerun Outlet* (II) ---------- UNKNOWN ---------- Panel
*N.B. What I'm referring to as the Homerun Outlet technically IS NOT the Homerun Outlet as it's not the first opening in the circuit and there is likely some unknown circuitry between this box and the panel, but relative to the room I'm working in, it is where the power comes from. So for simplicity sake, I'm just calling it the Homerun Outlet.
It is fed by a whip containing a 15a Network. Downstream from this box, the Red Hot is dedicated for the Sump and the Black Hot feeds the Mid Outlets.
I don't want to get into ALL the details as this will be pages long, but after some work I ended up with a Red Hot and Neutral from the Homerun Outlet to the Sump Outlet, completely disconnected from everything (see below)...
Sump Outlet (II) ---------- Mid Outlet (II) ---------- Mid Outlet (II) ---------- Homerun Outlet* (II) ---------- UNKNOWN ---------- Panel
Red Hot X -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X Red Hot
Neutral X --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X Neutral
These are two wires completely independent of EVERYTHING. Capped off on both ends, no receptacles, NOTHING. Just two wires in the pipe from box to box. When I connect the Red Hot to its' Feed at the Homerun Outlet I get 20v from Neutral to Ground at the Homerun (see below)...
Sump Outlet (II) ---------- Mid Outlet (II) ---------- Mid Outlet (II) ---------- Homerun Outlet* (II) ---------- UNKNOWN ---------- Panel
Red Hot X -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Red Hot ------------- UNKNOWN ------------ Red Hot
Neutral X --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X Neutral (20v Neutral to Ground)
Keep in mind, there is NOTHING connected. The Wires are capped off at the Sump Outlet. There is NOTHING connected in between. The ONLY connection is the Red Hot to it's local source in the room. This 20v ONLY appears on the Neutral when the Red Hot is livened up. There is ZERO potential connection between the Hot and Neutral. No potentially failed receptacles, NOTHING.
The only thing I can think of is that somewhere in between the two boxes the wires are scarred and maybe crossing. Thoughts?
I just came across a bit of a brain teaser that I thought you all might find interesting and I wanted to get some input on it...
Here is a simple diagram of the situation:
Sump Outlet (II) ---------- Mid Outlet (II) ---------- Mid Outlet (II) ---------- Homerun Outlet* (II) ---------- UNKNOWN ---------- Panel
*N.B. What I'm referring to as the Homerun Outlet technically IS NOT the Homerun Outlet as it's not the first opening in the circuit and there is likely some unknown circuitry between this box and the panel, but relative to the room I'm working in, it is where the power comes from. So for simplicity sake, I'm just calling it the Homerun Outlet.
It is fed by a whip containing a 15a Network. Downstream from this box, the Red Hot is dedicated for the Sump and the Black Hot feeds the Mid Outlets.
I don't want to get into ALL the details as this will be pages long, but after some work I ended up with a Red Hot and Neutral from the Homerun Outlet to the Sump Outlet, completely disconnected from everything (see below)...
Sump Outlet (II) ---------- Mid Outlet (II) ---------- Mid Outlet (II) ---------- Homerun Outlet* (II) ---------- UNKNOWN ---------- Panel
Red Hot X -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X Red Hot
Neutral X --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X Neutral
These are two wires completely independent of EVERYTHING. Capped off on both ends, no receptacles, NOTHING. Just two wires in the pipe from box to box. When I connect the Red Hot to its' Feed at the Homerun Outlet I get 20v from Neutral to Ground at the Homerun (see below)...
Sump Outlet (II) ---------- Mid Outlet (II) ---------- Mid Outlet (II) ---------- Homerun Outlet* (II) ---------- UNKNOWN ---------- Panel
Red Hot X -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Red Hot ------------- UNKNOWN ------------ Red Hot
Neutral X --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X Neutral (20v Neutral to Ground)
Keep in mind, there is NOTHING connected. The Wires are capped off at the Sump Outlet. There is NOTHING connected in between. The ONLY connection is the Red Hot to it's local source in the room. This 20v ONLY appears on the Neutral when the Red Hot is livened up. There is ZERO potential connection between the Hot and Neutral. No potentially failed receptacles, NOTHING.
The only thing I can think of is that somewhere in between the two boxes the wires are scarred and maybe crossing. Thoughts?
Last edited: