Help! Has anyone even heard about this type of electrical problem before? When we plugged a regular steam iron into the wall. The unit didn't work. In fact, the AC outlet went out. Also all of the connecting line that feeds into the next bedroom went out. But only from here out. The rest of the house has power. And none of the breakers trip. But it only got weirder when I started troubleshooting. My tests showed me that the HOT and GROUND was reversed! Further testing I did was to pull all of the recepticles out of the wall and change them . So now, all of recepticles are new, Then I run my tests. A sign of relief this time because now my test shows the polarity is OK. Problem solved! Then, a final test run. Now my multimeter says 115 volts! It's a Sure Ball right? WRONG!! When I started plugging the lamp.....no light. Then I plugged the TV....nothing! AGAIN with the multimeter...115 volts! YES!! There is voltage but it could not power even a light bulb. What am I missing here? HELP!
2006-08-10 00:09:45 · 6 answers · asked by ? 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
you might need an electrican for this but let's start here , Any of you answer dealing with losing the nuetral is correct. you are reading thur the grd to get the 115
Now let's fix it
At the first plug that is nearest the panel box for the addition take it out and you will have one set of wires coming in and one leaving,un cap them and check for power. if not move back wards one more step, goto the panel where pwr send it to the addition find that breaker
check power
using a meter go hot to grd and hot to nuetral
on volts at 250 or better step it down if your reading is way high
place the red lead on the breaker, black on neutral , and then black on the panel it self in and area where the nails are or screws that hold it in , Power there move on
not power place leads across the incoming lines both at same time you should read 240 or so
ok panel is good move to the next jucntion , you may have to get in attic to trace the wire physically.
Good luck,
call an electrcian if you have trouble
2006-08-12 02:27:46 · answer #1 · answered by mr_jim51 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There aren't many options here. If you're using a Multi-tester and getting a 110 volt, or thereabouts, reading at the recepticle then either the lamp plug is not making contact with the sides of the recepticle, or the switch is turned off or there's a problem with the lamp, bulb, etc. In most electrical circuits, the voltage shifts back and forth from neutral to hot, 60 times/second, it's called alternating current, (AC), so if you've got power then something is wrong with the unit you're plugging in.
2006-08-10 14:30:52 · answer #2 · answered by Corky R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy an outlet tester. they are $10 and look like a plug with three lights. it will tell you if the neutral and hot and ground are wired right or wrong. great little tool to have. it even tells you what swrong at the outlet.
2006-08-10 09:35:54 · answer #3 · answered by zocko 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the neutral has lost its connection in the panel. If you are not familiar with panel workings I'd call an electrician.
2006-08-10 08:52:38 · answer #4 · answered by uncle bob 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
*Get in a qualified electrician to check it out. It sounds like an appliance has a short circuit and your safety fuses are not working properly, but that's only a guess.
2006-08-10 07:18:13 · answer #5 · answered by Neil S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like you have an open neutral, check the voltage to neutral not to ground
2006-08-10 07:31:37 · answer #6 · answered by daveinsurprise 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋