I was inspecting old barracks, and using a "current tester", I got readings (the tester started beeping) around the heat ducts (all you need to do is get close to an electrical flow to set it off). Last year our electrician checked out one of the barracks and couldn't find anything, but when I reinspected this spring....7 of the 8 barracks had readings. I checked around the furnace to see if there was a bad ground, or it was using the duct work as a ground..but that was inconclusive. Any thoughts??
Stray voltage??
- Thread starter rhatch
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Inspectorcliff
Senior Member
- Location
- Colorado
no path
no path
I have seen the only source of unbalanced current back to earth become dry and the electricity was seeking a path to earth and possibly the metal heaters were that path.
I once seen the old two screw in fuse panels glow red at night be cause the only source for the unbalance was through the grounding electrode conductor and it was either loose or the weather had been so dry and their was no path to earth.
no path
rhatch said:
I have seen the only source of unbalanced current back to earth become dry and the electricity was seeking a path to earth and possibly the metal heaters were that path.
I once seen the old two screw in fuse panels glow red at night be cause the only source for the unbalance was through the grounding electrode conductor and it was either loose or the weather had been so dry and their was no path to earth.
wirebender
Senior Member
- Location
- North Central Texas
I don't know what is setting your tester off.
IMSO, if there is current on the duct and it is coming from the main power supply then there is a connection between a grounded conductor and the duct somehow. Or an ungrounded conductor and the duct is not grounded.
Whether or not there is a good path to ground is irrelevant since electricity does not try to return to ground it tries to return to source. If it is going to ground there is an unintentional connection somewhere. I would check all grounded conductor connections including at the service.
It may also be getting energized from the low voltage used for the A/C controls.
IMSO, if there is current on the duct and it is coming from the main power supply then there is a connection between a grounded conductor and the duct somehow. Or an ungrounded conductor and the duct is not grounded.
Whether or not there is a good path to ground is irrelevant since electricity does not try to return to ground it tries to return to source. If it is going to ground there is an unintentional connection somewhere. I would check all grounded conductor connections including at the service.
It may also be getting energized from the low voltage used for the A/C controls.
rhatch said:
Hi Inspector rhatch,
There might be possible answers with a little more information. What type of current tester, what Amp readings resulted and type of raceway along side of ducting existed? You mentioned a beeping detector...sounds like a ticker or Voltage sensor. rbj
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