I recently finished installing the outlets and switches for an office in our basement. I did all the wiring myself. After connecting the circuit into the main panel I tested the circuit with a voltmeter. I was shocked (no pun intended) to find 3 volts when testing the switchable outlets while the switch was off. I began looking for a defective outlet or switch – but could not find any problems. I was very upset thinking I had made a mistake with the wiring. Then I tested a switchable outlet upstairs installed by a professional electrician three years ago when the house was built. Those outlets show 20 volts when the switch is off!!!
Is this voltage a problem? Does it indicate a wiring problem or is it “stray voltage”? What other tests should I do to isolate the problem – if any? And should I be calling my electrician back to fix anything?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Replies
Where are you geting the voltage?
Hot to ground, neutral to ground?
Did you make sure all the polarity at the recpticals are correct?
What, if anything, else is onthe circuit in question?
Need more info to even speculate>
Dave
I thought I was kinda handy, then I found out I had to go read the book.
Take a piece of 12-2wg and throw it on the floor, strip bare ends on each end. Now that's 6 ends of wire. Take your tester and check for current, if you get a reading you now know where the problem is.
If you don't get any reading then proceed----------to the book.
Kinda just kidding but the book helps lots.
Your gonna have to start tracing circuits. start at the breaker box,check the ground and neutrals disconnected and then go from there. Or go for the phone, but it's kinda fun to figure out your own house.
Dear Mr. Handy,
What you have is phantom voltage [aka F-4 voltage]. You did your wiring exactly right and you are using a digital meter. These are all the rage right now but what you need is an analog meter -- the kind with a dial. These are still available if you look hard enough. An example is Craftsman #82012.
When Mike Faraday and Nick Tesla invented AC, they included something called mutual induction so transformers would work. You have 3 or 20 volts and essentially zero amps. 3 X 0^10-52 = 0 or the value of the Palestinian economy. So don't worry about it; drink a beer.
~Peter
Miners or former tunnel workers needed for an emergency Breaktime project in south eastern West Virginia.
Thank you for your explaination of the voltage I detected. I'll sleep a little better knowing I did not mess up the wiring.