using the ground for a neutral in a luminaire????

[betterelectric]

can anyone explain to me why i read 35 to 60 AC volts hot to neutral on a switch leg when the switch is off. could it be because someone has attached the neutral to the ground inside the switch because there wasnt a neutral at the switch location. is this dangerous? what are the possible negative results?

 

[Sierrasparky]

can anyone explain to me why i read 35 to 60 AC volts hot to neutral on a switch leg when the switch is off. could it be because someone has attached the neutral to the ground inside the switch because there wasnt a neutral at the switch location. is this dangerous? what are the possible negative results?

No I would think lost neutral.

 

[zbang]

You're probably using a high-impedance meter. What you're seeing a "ghost" voltage (either capacitively or inductively coupled). Try using a low-impedance one, like a T-Pro. If there was a bootleg ground or the like, you'd see 120v or nothing.

 

[GoldDigger]

The voltage you measure with high impedance meter is just the capacitively coupled voltage on the open wire from the hot traveler next to it.

 

[goldstar]

Could be an electric range or dryer (or something similar) that was installed with SEU cable. Anything like that requiring a neutral for digital displays might give you a reading like that. Try turning off one breaker at a time until you lose it. That should narrow it down.

 

[scott7]

break in neutral and ground not continuous is my guess

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Assuming that the switch leg is connected to a load and the load is still connected to its neutral, I would not expect this to be an issue caused by the use of a high impedance meter.