[omgwtfbyobbq]

I'm removing a rats nest of duct tape and wire run from a home exterior wall to what can be loosely called a shed. I only found one UF romex at 120, so that should be easy enough to box up, but there's also a set of three stranded #14 wires that are duct taped together. I'm getting ~1.5V and ~2.3V between a couple of the wires, and there's a string of what appear to be low voltage lights nearby. Is that voltage coming from those, or could it be coming from some of the spa equipment that still has an active and separate 120 line run to it?

 

[Missouri Bound]

If those lines are parallel to the active spa line, you could be reading phantom voltage. Are you using a digital meter or analog meter?

 

[omgwtfbyobbq]

That must be it. Too much impedance w/ my DMM causing unduction or capacitance in the other wire. Are the different voltages between different wires indicative of differing impedance/etc in the three inactive bundled wires, and is there any reason why one pair still reads zero voltage?

As a side note, w/ the dmm I also get about 1V less at the plugs on circuits that have a lot of receptacles/lights than one dedicated circuits (dishwasher, garbage disposal, ect), is this normal?

Edit- Doh! Of course it is since those branches are a lot longer than the short runs to the appliances.

 

[Missouri Bound]

Sounds like you've got it figured out. Good luck with future projects.

 

[mpoulton]

That must be it. Too much impedance w/ my DMM

Hey, somebody who actually understands phantom voltage readings! You got it. Try a light bulb in parallel with your meter, or a meter with a "low-Z" option.