Problem with Neutral Connection

kbrigham

I am new here and have not had much time to look around. So I apologize if this issue has been covered before.

Problem: 120v 20amp circuit stopped working out of the blue.
Receptical: Hot to ground = 120volts
Hot to Neutral = 99volts
Ground to Neutral = 50Mohms

Question: Is this an indication that the neutral is floating or comprimised? It is my understanding that the readings should be as follows:
Hot to Ground = 120volts
Hot to Neutral = 120volts
Ground to Neutral = 0Ohms.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am planning on opening the panel tomorrow. However, seems unlikely that there is a problem seems everything has been working for 5+ years.

Thank you in advance for suggestions or comments.

Kevin

frenchelectrican

did you test with the digtail voltmeter ??


If so you may end up reading ghost voltage and the way you descrbing i am more leaning you have bad netural connection somehwere.

a very simple test is take a table lamp just plug it in and you should see it lit up or not a very simple go / no go test.

before you start working on the connection i really strongly advise ya to turn off the breaker for that circuit [ if mapped out or marked ]

it can be bad back stabbed repectale or bad wirenut connection [ backstabbed repectales are most common for netural conntion dropped out ]

Merci, Marc

220/221

I don't use a digital meter for this type of troubleshooting. There is no load placed on the circuit. It can be hanging by a thread and still read voltage.

Always start at the source. I had one today that was installed in 2001. The neutral connection at the bus had never been sufficiently tightened and it chose Friday to stp working.


At least 1/2 the time it is at a feed thru receptical that has been backstabbed. Use logic and trace the circuit path.

SOME of your circuit may still be working so I dentify the breaker, turn it off and check all outlets/lights. If some are working you know where it stopped.

kbrigham

Thanks for the responses. Turns out the Netural wire had arc'd within the SP compromising the connection. Now, I guess the question is how did this happen.

Loose to begin with??
Brother messing with the GFCI outlet?? (His history indicates he should not mess with electricity)

However it happened I was able to reterminate and verify its operation. Thanks again for the suggestions.

Kevin

Speedy Petey

More than likely.

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