I have an electrical curcit that is working but it has 4 volts of feedback. I changed a switch and when I went to screw it back into the metal box, there was a small spark. I checked it with a meter and found that there was 4 volts AC between the box and the metal part of the switch. I checked all of the grounds from the box to the switch but didn't find anything loose. Does anyone have any ideas as to what is causing this????
2007-11-17 00:47:35 · 7 answers · asked by denfield12 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
You have a ground fault... I hope you don't stand in a bathtub of water when you touch anything electrical in your house or you could light up brightly.
Get it checked by a licensed electrician... ground faults are serious.
2007-11-17 00:55:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like something you have plugged in is sending the current to the ground and when you tried to screw the switch back in the box it was grounded again. If you can still attach the meter and get the reading again try unplugging items one at a time. You have a faulty ground somewhere in that circuit
2007-11-19 11:10:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something in the house has a little short, probably one of the many little chargers that we have plugged in everywhere. You might want to see if it has any power behind it, Load the circuit with a lamp and check it with an amp probe, if the current is zero, don't sweat the problem. If it indicates current, start unplugging stuff, which means anything that plugs in.Remember this, some items that are shorted still work fine.
I opened a refrigerator with one hand and turned the water off with the other, guess what! Curly hair.
2007-11-17 02:24:03 · answer #3 · answered by Robert D 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My first guess was you broke something. Then I asked my neighbor who is a retired electrician. He said he thinks you may have lost your ground for the house. He suggested calling an electrician to be on the safe side.
2007-11-17 02:25:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
More information is needed, especially the intended schematic and a view of the entire actual circuit. Otherwise, there is going to be a lot of guessing in the answers.
2007-11-17 00:57:49 · answer #5 · answered by Ultraviolet Oasis 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It appears that what ever you are using it for is not properly grounded. It would be best to have an experienced electrician look at that.
2007-11-17 00:55:52 · answer #6 · answered by trey98607 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
earth fault !!
2007-11-17 02:32:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋