No such thing as phantom voltage
No such thing as phantom voltage
There is no mystery as to why a High-Impedance Fluke (or other DMM) will show 120 vac even when there is an open neutral.
It is because of capacitance. A capacitor will pass AC voltages. When you have an insulated neutral conductor, (but open), it still has enough capacitance to pass enough AC voltage (at a very limited current level) to fully stimulate the A/D circuitry of a DMM. The completed circuit to the DMM, (with volts and mA calculations can be shown very effectively on paper).
Conversely, a LOW impedance solenoid tester can?t be fooled, as it needs a "true" complete, conductive path of substantial current carrying capability, to activate the serious current load of a solenoid.
My reason for post is only to object to the term "phantom", as it makes people think that magic is present. There is no 'phantom" voltage. The high impedance meter is doing exactly what it was designed to do, by give accurate voltage measurements, without affecting the overall current draw of the circuit being measured.
A green apprentice must be shown this, by an experienced journeyman, at length, at the first available opportunity. This usually shows up when there is an open neutral.
Just curious, is there new technology regarding the "3-eyed monster" plug-in checkers. I haven't used them, or seen one of them in many years. Are these LOW or
