Odd voltage readings

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Shaneyj

Shaneyj

Senior Member
Location
Katy, Texas
Occupation
Project Engineer
Bathroom gfi receptacle. 15A circuit. I didn't have time to get into it too much but will be back next week to sort it out. Based on panel label bath gfi is not dedicated. 2 romex cables were both landed line side.
Hot to ground = 100V
Hot to line neutral = 52V
Hot to other neutral = 52V
These readings were taken with grounds connected and the 4 conductors isolated.
Any thoughts on what to look for when I go back?
Thank you.

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Shaneyj said:
Bathroom gfi receptacle. 15A circuit. I didn't have time to get into it too much but will be back next week to sort it out. Based on panel label bath gfi is not dedicated. 2 romex cables were both landed line side.
Hot to ground = 100V
Hot to line neutral = 52V
Hot to other neutral = 52V
These readings were taken with grounds connected and the 4 conductors isolated.
Any thoughts on what to look for when I go back?
Thank you.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk
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There is nothing wrong with haveing 2 cables connected to the line side of a GFCI protected receptacle. The only means they are not useing this receptacle to protect whatever is connected down stream.

You need to know which conductor really are the line side and this can be done with a no-contact voltage sensor. If you measured only 52V to neutral it sounds like an open neutral.
But only measureing 100V to ground doesn't sound like the ground is to good either.

I would start at the panel and see what you have there. Check the neutral connection at the neutral bar, and the ground connection. Then work you way toward the bathroom. This circuit could actually feed other things in an older house. Turn just this one breaker off and see what all goes dead. Can be something as simple as a bad back stab at a receptacle in say a bedroom or hall or even another bathroom.
 
ActionDave said:
Your better than me, I didn't till just now. Dagnabbit auto correct.
Click to expand...

I didn't notice the first time I read it either. So I really didn't understand GoldDigger's comment. I thought I was just getting old and didn't understand modern humor. Turns out it's pretty funny.
 
Take same readings with a load connected.

Take readings (loaded and unloaded) to a known good grounded conductor.
 
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