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Author HOT WHITE & HOT BLACK - HELP
JK

2006-06-29, 9:28 am

A pig tail tester shows that I have two hot wires in each of the
outlets in one room. House new 23 years ago and no problems until the
other day. A few days ago plugging iron into outlet cause all on
circuit to loose power. Breaker didn't flip. I replaced breaker and
outlet. Iron works fine in other outlet on other circuit. Twelve
hours or so after loosing power, with breaker on lights returned.
Plugged iron in and lost power again without breaker flipping to off.
2nd test of outlet with pig tail tester again showed two hot wires.
Iron works fine elsewhere. Any thoughts appreciated. Room has
outlets, ceiling fan, and a switch to one of the plugs. I didn't test
the switch. Thanks again.

RBM

2006-06-29, 9:28 am

You have an open neutral, the white wire. It has most likely come loose in a
back stabbed outlet in that room or an adjacent room. Plug in a lamp with
the switch "on" and tap on all the dead outlets and any live outlets in the
vicinity. If you tap on one and the light flickers or comes on, look in that
outlet for loose connections




"JK" <kleinwaks@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1151535829.492954.137250@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
>A pig tail tester shows that I have two hot wires in each of the
> outlets in one room. House new 23 years ago and no problems until the
> other day. A few days ago plugging iron into outlet cause all on
> circuit to loose power. Breaker didn't flip. I replaced breaker and
> outlet. Iron works fine in other outlet on other circuit. Twelve
> hours or so after loosing power, with breaker on lights returned.
> Plugged iron in and lost power again without breaker flipping to off.
> 2nd test of outlet with pig tail tester again showed two hot wires.
> Iron works fine elsewhere. Any thoughts appreciated. Room has
> outlets, ceiling fan, and a switch to one of the plugs. I didn't test
> the switch. Thanks again.
>



JK

2006-06-29, 9:28 am

Thanks for the response. Would a loose wire cause the neutral to be
hot?
RBM (remove this) wrote:[color=darkred]
> You have an open neutral, the white wire. It has most likely come loose in a
> back stabbed outlet in that room or an adjacent room. Plug in a lamp with
> the switch "on" and tap on all the dead outlets and any live outlets in the
> vicinity. If you tap on one and the light flickers or comes on, look in that
> outlet for loose connections
>
>
>
>
> "JK" <kleinwaks@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:1151535829.492954.137250@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...

Mark Lloyd

2006-06-29, 9:28 am

On 28 Jun 2006 16:03:49 -0700, "JK" <kleinwaks@comcast.net> wrote:

>A pig tail tester shows that I have two hot wires in each of the
>outlets in one room. House new 23 years ago and no problems until the
>other day. A few days ago plugging iron into outlet cause all on
>circuit to loose power. Breaker didn't flip. I replaced breaker and
>outlet. Iron works fine in other outlet on other circuit. Twelve
>hours or so after loosing power, with breaker on lights returned.
>Plugged iron in and lost power again without breaker flipping to off.
>2nd test of outlet with pig tail tester again showed two hot wires.
>Iron works fine elsewhere. Any thoughts appreciated. Room has
>outlets, ceiling fan, and a switch to one of the plugs. I didn't test
>the switch. Thanks again.


Intermittent loose neutral?
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what
to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb
contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin
RBM

2006-06-29, 9:28 am

Yes, it would appear as a hot on both wires, but it is actually a backfed
hot wire from something else on the circuit. If you momentarily bridged a
wire from the white wire to the ground, you would see the lights come back
on. Only do this as a test




"JK" <kleinwaks@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1151539831.783534.101600@b68g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks for the response. Would a loose wire cause the neutral to be
> hot?
> RBM (remove this) wrote:
>



buffalobill

2006-06-29, 9:28 am

if it is an outlet, you can replace all five outlets for $5.
or you can find out if one is bad with a meter by disconnecting each
outlet.
you must unplug all devices from the troublesome circuit and each
outlet with a MULTIMETER for more complete readings leading to better
answers. the neon tester bulb has helped identify a danger in your
home.

original thread with original answers at :
http://groups.google.com/group/alt....6ffd674bf53e1e2

other faq at:
http://www.landfield.com/faqs/electrical-wiring/part1/


JK wrote:
> A pig tail tester shows that I have two hot wires in each of the
> outlets in one room. House new 23 years ago and no problems until the
> other day. A few days ago plugging iron into outlet cause all on
> circuit to loose power. Breaker didn't flip. I replaced breaker and
> outlet. Iron works fine in other outlet on other circuit. Twelve
> hours or so after loosing power, with breaker on lights returned.
> Plugged iron in and lost power again without breaker flipping to off.
> 2nd test of outlet with pig tail tester again showed two hot wires.
> Iron works fine elsewhere. Any thoughts appreciated. Room has
> outlets, ceiling fan, and a switch to one of the plugs. I didn't test
> the switch. Thanks again.


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