On one outlet my GFCI tester has all three lights lit. What does it mean?

Deck · 07-09-2008, 12:03 AM

? The diagram provided by the manufacturer covers every case except the one I have. I have disconnected an appliance from the outlet (toaster oven) but I have the same result. All three lights are lit.

Thanks

wirenut1110 · 07-09-2008, 06:45 AM

Based on your other question, is your neutral and ground reversed?

BillyD · 07-09-2008, 08:24 AM

Maybe the tester is bad.

**Termite** · 07-09-2008, 10:19 AM

In several years as an inspector, I've been led astray by a number of testers. They can get quirky sometimes. I go through at least two a year, no matter what brand I buy, because mine get used constantly. I'd suggest trying a new tester and going from there.

Stubbie · 07-09-2008, 12:46 PM

Take out your grounding type outlet (receptacle) you have a hot neutral interchanged and you have a bootleg ground....small jumper from the neutral screw to the ground screw. This only occurs on wiring systems that do not have the equipment ground in the wiring system...just two wires black and white no grounding wire or metal conduit. If you have the equipment ground in the wiring and connected to the receptacle ground screw then I'm not sure what your problem may be other than a faulty tester but you say it works correctly on other outlets.

Deck · 07-09-2008, 09:18 PM

Thanks for the info guys.

I'm going to get a new tester to be safe. I went to Home Depot today and the 3-prong testers are only the Sperry type. They don't sell any other 3-prong testers. What would be a good tester if I wanted to test ground, neutral, and hot?

I've got a lot of stuff in my house that has old armor cable with these wires in some type of cloth... but all the wires look the same. There is no difference to any of the wires. So I'd like to test them for hot /ground /neutral.

Deck · 07-09-2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wirenut1110

Based on your other question, is your neutral and ground reversed?

That's a separate issue on another circuit. It appears that:

hotwire runs to fan neutral
neutral runs to fan light
ground runs to fan hotwire

when I flick the switch the light goes on and off. the fan goes on regardless of the state of the switch; it is controlled by a pull chain. ran fine for probably 20 years.

07-09-2008, 12:03 AM	#1
Deck Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Westchester, N.Y. Posts: 109	On one outlet my GFCI tester has all three lights lit. What does it mean? ? The diagram provided by the manufacturer covers every case except the one I have. I have disconnected an appliance from the outlet (toaster oven) but I have the same result. All three lights are lit. Thanks Attached Thumbnails

07-09-2008, 06:45 AM	#2
wirenut1110 Electrical Contractor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chester, VA. Posts: 789	On one outlet my GFCI tester has all three lights lit. What does it mean? Based on your other question, is your neutral and ground reversed?

07-09-2008, 08:24 AM	#3
BillyD Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 149	On one outlet my GFCI tester has all three lights lit. What does it mean? Maybe the tester is bad.

07-09-2008, 10:19 AM	#4
Termite Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 6,520	On one outlet my GFCI tester has all three lights lit. What does it mean? In several years as an inspector, I've been led astray by a number of testers. They can get quirky sometimes. I go through at least two a year, no matter what brand I buy, because mine get used constantly. I'd suggest trying a new tester and going from there.

07-09-2008, 12:46 PM	#5
Stubbie UAW SKILLED TRADES Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 4,584	On one outlet my GFCI tester has all three lights lit. What does it mean? Take out your grounding type outlet (receptacle) you have a hot neutral interchanged and you have a bootleg ground....small jumper from the neutral screw to the ground screw. This only occurs on wiring systems that do not have the equipment ground in the wiring system...just two wires black and white no grounding wire or metal conduit. If you have the equipment ground in the wiring and connected to the receptacle ground screw then I'm not sure what your problem may be other than a faulty tester but you say it works correctly on other outlets.

On one outlet my GFCI tester has all three lights lit. What does it mean?