Stumped?

[daleuger]

Okie-dokie! Before I energize a new circuit, or one that's been repaired or modified, I check to see if there is a short circuit by touching one lead of my solenoid-type tester to the hot wire of the circuit in question, and the other lead on the load terminal of a breaker that is on.

I might be misunderstanding what you're saying here, Larry. Wouldn't that just make sure the new/repaired/modified circuit isn't shorted to the phase of that one breaker? Does it matter which phase the hot breaker you use to test is on? Just a little lost here.

 

[LarryFine]

What would be a normal reading I can expect to get from known good underground conductors?

If both ends are disconnected, you should measure just about 0v between a known hot and each floating conductor with a low-impedance tester.

17v between a hot and a floating conductor is not much at all with a high-impedance voltmeter. I'm actually suprised it isn't nearer line voltage.

 

[LarryFine]

I might be misunderstanding what you're saying here, Larry. Wouldn't that just make sure the new/repaired/modified circuit isn't shorted to the phase of that one breaker? Does it matter which phase the hot breaker you use to test is on? Just a little lost here.

Technically speaking, a short bewteen the wire under test and the phase you're using as a source for the tester is the one fault this test won't disclose.

Re-testing using another phase would rule out that issue.

With one test lead on a hot wire, the tester reading power would indicate that there is little resistance between the conductor under test and ground.

 

[daleuger]

Technically speaking, a short bewteen the wire under test and the phase you're using as a source for the tester is the one fault this test won't disclose.

Re-testing using another phase would rule out that issue.

With one test lead on a hot wire, the tester reading power would indicate that there is little resistance between the conductor under test and ground.

Ahhh....GOTCHA! I did misread then. Makes sense now.