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About Bob Sponaugle
Expertise
Just about any home wiring question. (not appliance repair) I have done all kinds of home wiring for myself, including adding a new breaker box, etc. Please, questions from North America only. Please be specific with details.

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Electrical Wiring in the Home - connecting neutral to ground turns on everthing in my dead curcuit

Expert: Bob Sponaugle - 1/1/2008

Question
I apologize in advance for not using the proper terminology. I am only
a do it your selfer. I have an electrical problem involving one circuit
in my house. i am calling every outlet or light switch connected to
one circuit in the breaker box a "circuit"
the circuit involves five outlets and two lights. i replaced all the
outlets and the connections are good in them and the lights. on
outlet had a poor hot connection and it fixed the problem until the
second more trouble some outlet was found. after the first bad
connection outlet was fixed plugged everything back in lamps clock TV
etc... then unplugged a clock from the second more troublesome outlet
and no more power in the circuit. the troublesome outlet has two
neutrals (white) and two hots (blacks) and two grounds (wound together
and connected to the outlet). normal right?

when i connect the neutrals to the ground all the lights and outlets work!

what does this mean? is my house going to burn down?

i have noticed is the overhead lights are no grounded but they appear
to have never been so which is normal right?

no work has been done on the house the only other clue is an electrical
"zap zap zap" sound from the outlet the day before. the outlet worked
after the sound as clock plugged into it is an alarm that went off the
next morning and power was lost later that day.

sorry this is so long but any clues you give me are appreciated

Answer
Hi.

It sounds like the white neutral line has a break in it somewhere. Connecting the white to the ground is not safe. You have electricity going through the ground. It's not made for that.

Check your wiring for a place where the white neutral wire is not making contact. Connected to an outlet, inside a wire nut etc.

I hope this helps.

Bob

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