Questonable voltage in receptacle

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raider1

raider1

Senior Member
Staff member
Location
Logan, Utah
Could be a bad connection in the equipment grounding conductor. Or a bad connection in the main bonding jumper.

Welcome to the forum.:)

Chris
 
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Kdog76

Senior Member
Location
The Dairyland State
Is that the only receptecle that shows unusual voltage? Sometimes it helps to have a second meter to ensure the meter is reading correctly. I would take the outlet out, see how many wires you have there. Sounds to me like an open neutral somewhere. Double check voltage at the main...maybe plug an extension cord in at an outlet that you know is wired correctly, then use a digital meter to check voltage between the good ground on the cord & the hot / neutral on your trouble outlet.

May help to narrow it down.
 
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David Fernandes

Member
It is a set of receptacles on that circuit that are giving this reading. The rest of the house is fine. There was some remodel work done and this circuit was used. I found this out by switching it off and the remodel room light was on this circuit.
 
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satcom

Senior Member
Did you check for a bootleg connection, a bootleg neutral, can produce these readings. We usually find them in switch boxes, where some jack leg used the ground wire, for a neutral, happens a lot, where they add recess lighting.
 
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Kdog76

Senior Member
Location
The Dairyland State
satcom said:
Did you check for a bootleg connection, a bootleg neutral, can produce these readings. We usually find them in switch boxes, where some jack leg used the ground wire, for a neutral, happens a lot, where they add recess lighting.
Click to expand...

What's a jack leg? I have heard of bootleg whiskey, bootleg music, and even a switch leg. But a jack leg?
 
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David Fernandes

Member
satcom said:
Did you check for a bootleg connection, a bootleg neutral, can produce these readings. We usually find them in switch boxes, where some jack leg used the ground wire, for a neutral, happens a lot, where they add recess lighting.
Click to expand...

This could be the case. I did not check this. In your opinion could this be volatile?
 
480sparky

480sparky

Senior Member
Location
Iowegia
Kdawg67 said:
What's a jack leg? I have heard of bootleg whiskey, bootleg music, and even a switch leg. But a jack leg?
Click to expand...

Tieing the neutral and ground together at a device to make it appear it's grounded when using a plug-in tester.

Picture115.jpg
 
growler

growler

Senior Member
Location
Atlanta,GA
Kdawg67 said:
What's a jack leg? I have heard of bootleg whiskey, bootleg music, and even a switch leg. But a jack leg?
Click to expand...


A "Jackleg" is the type of person ( wanna-be electrician) that will wire up a "bootleg" ground. Some don't know any better and others just don't care but it comes down to the same thing, poor quality and dangerous work. :wink:
 
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