Electrical Fault
Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 4:03 pm
I have a series of outlets that have developed a fault. There are three outlets on this particular 20 amp breaker. It is a tandem Square D breaker that feeds two kitchen outlets and one outlet in the hallway. The other side of the breaker feeds the remaining kitchen outlets.
This morning as my wife was using an electric griddle on one of the outlets, it failed. A short time later it came back on. Then it failed again. The particular outlet she was using was at the end of the series.
I took apart the outlet and tested the wires. Testing the Positive to the Ground wire yields the full 110 volts. Testing the Positive to the Neutral yields about 80 volts, suggesting a weak ground at the main or a ground somewhere along the line. I back tracked to each of the outlets on the series and found the same results, suggesting that the fault is somewhere ahead of the first outlet.
I checked the neutral wire attached to the bar in the main and it appears to be fine. I can't imagine that the breaker is bad since it is throwing 110 volts through the Positive and the Ground.
I am thinking that I might have to replace the section of wire that feeds the first outlet in the hallway to the panel.
I'm open to suggestions on how to accomplish this in the simplest fashion while still feeding the wires through the walls.
This morning as my wife was using an electric griddle on one of the outlets, it failed. A short time later it came back on. Then it failed again. The particular outlet she was using was at the end of the series.
I took apart the outlet and tested the wires. Testing the Positive to the Ground wire yields the full 110 volts. Testing the Positive to the Neutral yields about 80 volts, suggesting a weak ground at the main or a ground somewhere along the line. I back tracked to each of the outlets on the series and found the same results, suggesting that the fault is somewhere ahead of the first outlet.
I checked the neutral wire attached to the bar in the main and it appears to be fine. I can't imagine that the breaker is bad since it is throwing 110 volts through the Positive and the Ground.
I am thinking that I might have to replace the section of wire that feeds the first outlet in the hallway to the panel.
I'm open to suggestions on how to accomplish this in the simplest fashion while still feeding the wires through the walls.