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View Full Version : Electrical outlet nor working gfci


kasper37
Jul 16, 2009, 05:55 PM
I have an exterior electrical outlet that is not working, (gfci), however I was trouble shooting the outlet and I came across that two outlets in that circuit are not working.. here is the scenario; I placed the electrical tester on the wires and what is confusing to me is that when I placed my tester on the black wire the sensor lights up which is normal the black wire should always be hot.. here is where it gets confusing, when I move my tester to the white neutral wire the sensor lights up as well as if it was hot, and that is not what should happen, I grabed a piece of wire and I connected one end of the receptacle to the black wire and the other piece of wire I placed it on a metal pipe and wouldn't you know it it worked the receptacle worked that means that there is no neutral connection on that circuit, what I would like to know is why is it that the neutral wire that is in the circuit is hot that is not normal.

Can someone help..

Stratmando
Jul 16, 2009, 06:27 PM
Do you have something plugged into one of the regular(GFI Protected) Recpticles?

Missouri Bound
Jul 16, 2009, 07:55 PM
It is carrying voltage doe to something plugged in a receptacle, or light on that circuit... or it is wired incorrectly. Turn off the breaker, disconnect the wires to the outlet and check it with a voltmeter... not a neon tester.