outlet testing

[tkeaton]

I do home inspections. While looking at a home and testing outlets, I found a three prong one that had reverse polarity. I thought about the older homes with two prong outlets and wondered if my tester would show anything if it had reverse polarity. I put a two prong adapter on the outlet tester. It only showed that the outlet was ungrounded.
I am familiar with the safety concerns with reverse polarity. I also wonder about what else the tester may not show, like an open neutral if there is a competent ground at the box but only a two prong outlet. It is beyond the scope of an inspection to take off outlet cover plates and pull outlets to look at them. Any thoughts?
Also, do you know what happens to a GFCI outlet when you test it and it fails? I have seen no power, open neutral, power at the load or line and not the other, and I think I have seen reverse polarity, but not a 100% sure.
Thank you

 

[ramsy]

In my experience, the palm-sized outlet testers are only accurate 75% of the time, and any inspector would embarrass themselves relying on these for their reports.

While the SureTest line of outlet testers by Ideal are more accurate, and report missing grounding more reliably, any GFCI testing features will be disabled without grounding present.

Without grounding present, inspectors would rely on the GFCI test button, and to determine which downstream plugs are connected (GFCI protected)

 

[JFletcher]

Welcome to the forum!

To test polarity in a 2 prong receptacle w/o pulling the cover plate, stick a NC tester like this:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Non-Contact-Voltage-Tester-NCVT-1SEN/100661787

in the larger (polarized neutral) slot; it shouldnt beep. Same test in the smaller slot will cause it to indicate voltage present.

Most cheapie plug in testers will not discover a bootlegged ground (jumper wire run from neutral to ground screws/backstabs). Many also fail to detect high impedance grounding connections.

If a GFCI fails its self test or wont reset, it is either wired wrong or damaged. Since determining that is beyond your scope, I would just indicate something like "downstairs half bath GFCI receptacle failed self test; recommend electrician inspect further". In my experience, 95% of these are damaged and require replacement.

 

[dmxtothemax]

What level of testing do people expect of a home inspector ?
If they expect such a high level of inspection of the electrics
then they should employ an electrician who would use
more/better equipment than a plug in tester.
much better quality test equipment is out there
that will tell you these things.
but don't expect it from a $10 tester.

 

[iwire]

What level of testing do people expect of a home inspector ?

Much depends on which state they live in, in the state I live in there are many regulations related to doing home inspections, the inspectors must be licensed by the state. In some other states anyone can claim to be an Home Inspector.

When it comes to HIs and electricians I find the large majority of electricians look at HIs as the enemy, as morons, as untrained and that they should not be allowed to call out things that were code compliant when installed but do not meet today's codes.

On the the hand there are a few if us that actually think HIs can find real issues that would otherwise go unnoticed so HIs can increase safety with the added benefit of making work for us to do.

Do I think all HIs are competent? Heck no, no more than I think all electricians are competent.

 

[growler]

What level of testing do people expect of a home inspector ?

Much depends on which state they live in, in the state I live in there are many regulations related to doing home inspections, the inspectors must be licensed by the state. In some other states anyone can claim to be an Home Inspector.

I understand that in some states the home inspectors must have a license but does this change the inspection criteria all that much? What they inspect and how they inspect it.

Do they promise to do any real troubleshooting? It would take a lot of time to check every two pronged receptacle in a house for reversed polarity.

Here there can be flying splices and boxes without covers all over the attic but that doesn't mean they will be found because home inspectors are not required to go and remove the insulation to try and find them. They limit the scope of the inspection to visual.

I think it's a reasonable question to ask just how much can be expected from a home inspection. Does the inspection criteria require them to find reversed polarity on two pronged receptacles?

If you go to a doctor for a prostate exam is he required to do a cat scan?

 

[iwire]

I understand that in some states the home inspectors must have a license but does this change the inspection criteria all that much? What they inspect and how they inspect it.

Do they promise to do any real troubleshooting? It would take a lot of time to check every two pronged receptacle in a house for reversed polarity.

Here there can be flying splices and boxes without covers all over the attic but that doesn't mean they will be found because home inspectors are not required to go and remove the insulation to try and find them. They limit the scope of the inspection to visual.

I think it's a reasonable question to ask just how much can be expected from a home inspection. Does the inspection criteria require them to find reversed polarity on two pronged receptacles?

If you go to a doctor for a prostate exam is he required to do a cat scan?

Again, from my persepective every area, every HI will be as different as every mechanic inspecting a car or a doctor inspecting a prostate. Great ones, average ones, poor ones.