They are in phase. There is actually more like 80 volts from the outlet to a earth ground from another part of the house and 20 from the earth ground to another ground from somewhere else in the house.
2006-10-18 06:57:43 · 5 answers · asked by rich p 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
You should get the electrician for the "elsewhere" part (the 20v from "ground" to "earth" sounds like a ground fault), but both sides of the outlet should show 110v to ground because it's AC.
With that result, you've shown the vacuum cleaner quit because of something wrong with it, not with the outlet.
2006-10-18 07:04:52 · answer #1 · answered by questor_2001 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Not all electricl systems reference the voltage to ground. Some of the old systems still have two hot wires. If you measured 110v between the two wires, you have a rotten connection somewhere. The meter doesn't draw the voltage down, but if you plugged the vacuum in and started it, the voltage would drop to nothing.
Uh....you are sure it's not just a bad vacuum cleaner?
2006-10-18 20:23:33 · answer #2 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yea, this doesn't really explain why the vacume would stop working. If it worked before, and all of a sudden stopped, it's unlikely it would be because the voltages on the lines changed.
2006-10-18 22:13:34 · answer #3 · answered by Greenspan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something in the house is wired wrong, get an electrician.
2006-10-18 13:59:32 · answer #4 · answered by rocketman9070 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
assuming your in the states, you have an electrical problem there, be careful with your computer, you might fry that too, call an electrician
2006-10-18 14:00:05 · answer #5 · answered by hitman_572 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋