Replies

1. 
   USAnigel | Feb 12, 2008 12:03am | #1

   Round "hole" connection is not made or is missing. Basicly means anything you plug in with a ground pin is not connected to "earth" or ground.

   ie Metal drill case should be grounded. If there is a conection made to the case by the live wire, you will get a shock. If the ground were connected the fuse or circuit breaker would trip first.

   Fix it or it should have a 2 pin socket instead of three depending on the number of wires in the wall.

1. 
   Henley | Feb 12, 2008 12:20am | #3

   Well your right about the shock, I think it eat my sawzall for breakfast! What I don't understand is the ground wires are connected to the terminal on the outlet. There is a junction box in the loop that is kind of a mess. The grounds in the box are all connected and grounded to the box. I checked all outlet on the circuit and this is the only one reading bad.
   Thanks in advance for any help you send. I usually avoid electrical work so I'm a novice at this stuff.

1. 
   USAnigel | Feb 12, 2008 12:54am | #4

   You might be best getting an electrician to check it out.

   I've had jobs where all the ground wires were connected but never got back to the "real" ground! so they went nowhere!

1. 
   Henley | Feb 12, 2008 01:00am | #5

   Yeah, I think I'll get some help. Need the lights etc. can I just bypass the outlet ( wire nut the feed back to the run) to temp. leave the circuit on? The rest of the run reads like it's OK.

1. 
   Henley | Feb 12, 2008 02:00am | #6

   Well, found another junction box on another circuit with all three grounds waving in the air. Time to call an electrician.

2. 
   peteduffy | Feb 12, 2008 12:13am | #2

   If your system is metal conduit & boxes, that usually acts as the ground.  If the receptacle is pulled out of the box when you test it, it will show open ground.

   If you have Romex, you'll have to add a ground wire.

   Pete Duffy, Handyman