I've traced a problem on one circuit to a neutral wire coming from my breaker box, that is grounding. All neutrals on that circuit shows ground, this much I understand. What I don't understand is that other circuits neutral wires are connected to the SAME bus bar and do Not show a ground...how can this be???
My next problem...I'm going to have to replace that wire..right?
So I'm going to have to pull the bad one from the upstairs far room all the way to the garage- should I use fish tape connected to the end of the old wire or just connect the new wire to the end of the old one?? I'm afraid what ever I connect to the old wire will break free 1/2 way thru the pull- then I'm screwed! cause it's got to be imposable to push 2 floors worth of wire thru 1/2inch conduit & J-boxes.
Any ideas?....Someone please help. :-(
2007-07-20 17:15:14 · 9 answers · asked by CrackerJacx 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
if you have disconnected the neutral from the neutral buss and it still showed it was grounded than you have a problem.
you will need to find where that neutral is and check what is on that circuit. you may have some thing plugged in that is shorted to ground , a damaged receptacle or even a problem with a light fixture.
good luck with your searching
2007-07-21 04:58:04 · answer #1 · answered by RUSSELLL 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Slow down with the thought of replacing wires because of that.
As long as the entire system is wired to NEC specs (hot, neutral and ground) there shouldn't be a problem with the wiring. If you find a neutral that has no connectivity to ground, then there is an interruption in these wires, most likely in the grounding wire, otherwise you wouldn't have any power coming out of this circuit at all. Usually the neutral and ground are tied together in the breaker box (in some Canadian provinces and north eastern states it might be different, they're going for a separate neutral and ground), this is where you have to look for. Check for loose connections or corrosion, this may be the answer to the problem.
2007-07-20 19:11:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not an electrician but I believe you should have 2 buss bars that come down the center of your box that the breakers plug into. Then you have two others bars one on one side, and the other usually on the bottom of the box. The one with the white wires go to the center wire coming in from the top of your box. That is the neutral bar. The last bar usually has bare wire and it goes to ground. They make a tester that plugs into all three slots in the duplex outlets. It shows with 3 lights weather you have a bad hot, neutral, or ground. Test each duplex on that circuit and see which ones have a problem. There may be more that one since there are usually several on the circuit, and if one has a problem the rest after that on the circuit also has a problem. Good luck!
2007-07-20 17:45:10 · answer #3 · answered by larry l 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your problem could be a couple of things. Your neutral and ground wire may be bonded together on the neutral bar. In the panel itself, your neutral bar and ground bar should be bonded. Check that out. Your other circuits, do they have a ground wire in the box with them? Besides the fact that your neutral is "grounding" isnt bad. The only wire you dont want to ground is you hot wire. I dont see that this is an issue. Whats the original problem? BTW, you want have to replace that wire, at least i dont think so. Dont worry about replacing that circuit just yet. You may not have to. If there an issue, it may be one of the j-boxes, i.e a bad or incorrect splice.
2007-07-21 05:16:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be careful here.
Almost always the neutral is connected to ground at the breaker box.
If you have an open neutral it needs to be properly fixed. The "floating neutral" can be very dangerous - and can kill someone. I would get an electrician involved rather than have a problem.
Remember that if there is a disaster, your Home Owner's insurance will not compensate you for loss if it is a result of improper wiring so it is not worth it to play with something you are not able to safely fix.
2007-07-21 02:25:50 · answer #5 · answered by GTB 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wire Continuity
2016-12-15 11:48:35 · answer #6 · answered by emmit 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a USA answer:
All your neutral wires should show continuity to ground. Your main service panel should have a bonding jumper between neutral and ground. Call an electrician and have him check this out.
When you say "all neutrals on that circuit", I get confused. One circuit should have one neutral. Call the electrician.
2007-07-21 02:41:55 · answer #7 · answered by John himself 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes this is totally acceptable. Some panels have the 2 bars in different places, however there is a bonding strap which connects them together through the metal box. You have only 1 ground rod and 1 bare copper ground cable. The incoming power lines also ground directly as this is done. They just have much longer ground rods. Having them separate really only LOOKS much better!
2016-05-19 00:15:28 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Got to go w/ john himself.
Also had wierd electrical problem.
Was getting over my head & worried , but was
fortunate to have an elecrtician buddy diagnose the problem
Saved a lot of un -necessary work I thought I was in for.
This guy is sharp & was still scratching his head for a while.
Worth calling in a pro as an investment in time & peace of mind.
Best regards
2007-07-21 04:12:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋