Voltage Problem

H. Bruce

This evening I decided to install a new light fixture in my backporch and found a voltage problem as described below.

1. Voltage between hot wire and ground, breaker on and light switch off
1 volt.
2. Voltage between hot wire and neutral, breaker on and light switch off
1 volt
3. Voltage between hot wire and neutral, breaker on and light switch on
120 volts.

Why is there 1 volt remaining on the first two when in fact there shouldn't be any? Any help would greatly be appreciated, thanks

nap

are you using a digital multimeter (DMM)? If so, you likely have "phantom voltage". It isn't really phantom but an induced voltage with such a low current capacity it is basically disregarded.

frenchelectrican

Nap have the point if you have ditgal Voltmeter they can pick up ghost voltage by induction of other conductors.

If you have a indentscent bulb hooked up you will read zero as you highlight first two parts.

Merci.
Marc

H. Bruce

I do not have a digital multimeter, I'm using one with a meter on it. Thanks to both of you for answering. Will I just go a head and install
the new light fixture, but what about that 1 volt? Will it not cause a problem?

frenchelectrican

naw I don't think so as long you hook them up in correct way.

Some of the voltmeter can be supersenstive that why sometime can get false reading.

Merci.
Marc

H. Bruce

Thanks "frenchelectrican" and "nap" for the information and help I certainly appreciated it. I always thought for induction to be involved the wire had to be in the form of a coil such as a transformer.

I scrolled down the page and see a similar posting or thread ,"small voltage on circuit with breaker off ", by jasonmechler (24 aug 09).

Thanks to all and good afternoon from Eastern Canada.
Bruce