AboutBob 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.
Question QUESTION: This problem is driving me crazy! I have receptacles in bathrooms that are on the same line with a gfi receptacle in a powder room. The voltage is 115 volts at the gfi receptacle, but only 50 volts at the other receptacles. All of these receptacles were fine until recently. I have no idea what caused the change. Can you please help?
ANSWER: Hi.
Funny voltage readings are caused by disconnected neutral wires. The reading is feedback through other things on the circuit. So look for a loose or disconnected white wire. Check any wires that are pushed into the back of outlets. These sometime fail.
I hope this helps.
Bob
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Bob,
Thanks for your input. I checked all connections and everything is tight, but the problem still exists. This is what I have, and have done since my first communication to you. I have a GFI receptacle and four other regular receptacles on this particular line. At the GFI receptacle the black and white "line" leads read 120 volts and the black and white "load" leads read 120 volts. So far, so good. When I go to each of the regular receptacles, however, the black and white leads read 60 volts. When I touch a black lead and a bare copper ground wire, I get a 120 volt reading! I have NO IDEA why I only get 60 volts out of each of the regular receptacles. This line has worked fine for years and I don't know what has caused this change. As a test, I substituted the GFI receptacle with a regular receptacle, but I get the same results...OK at the "GFI" location, but only 60 volts at the other four receptacles. I've spent HOURS connecting, re-connecting, checking....I'm going crazy (smile). With this additional input from me, do you have any other suggestions? Thank you very much for all of your help.
Irvin Johnson
Answer Hi.
I am sure it is a disconnected white wire somewhere. While it is rare for a problem to develop in the middle of a wire, that could be the problem. Perhaps someone drove a nail through it. But I would keep checking the white wire connections. Perhaps the problem is at an outlet you are not aware of. Be sure to check all outdoor outlets, bathroom outlets, garage and basement outlets. Garages and basements sometimes have clutter that cover some outlets.
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