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View Full Version : Multiple neutral wires in one room running hot


Daddy Harris
Jul 10, 2011, 12:28 PM
I have an issue in one room where the electrics suddenly no longer work and this issue is confined to only that room. Checking the wires to the electric and light boxes on multiple boxes, the white wire is running at 120V, and the hot wire is also running at 120V. I assume the issue must be a hot wire touching the white wire somewhere in the circuit, but welcome other thoughts and ideas on how to identify where the issue is, or anything else that may be causing the problem.

hkstroud
Jul 10, 2011, 01:46 PM
issue must be a hot wire touching the white wire

Not necessarily. A neutral conductor has voltage on it when a light or outlet is on that circuit is in use. How are you checking voltage on the neutral? Normally your meter will not show voltage between the neutral and ground because the neutral and ground come together at the panel. In other words they are the same voltage. When you measure voltage you are measuring the difference in voltage of the two conductors.
A meter showing voltage between neutral and the ground wire indicates an open neutral somewhere.
If the neutral wire were in direct contact with a hot you would have a tripped breaker.

Kyle_in_rure
Jul 10, 2011, 02:37 PM
What sort of tester are you using?

As far as I know what you're describing as "a white touching a black" somewhere would cause a short circuit and trip the breaker/blow a fuse, so I don't think this would be the problem exactly. (I could be wrong... ) Are you getting 120V from the white wire to the bare copper wire(ground wire)?

tkrussell
Jul 11, 2011, 04:33 AM
Sounds like an open neutral, this will cause you to measure 120 volts to ground.

Need to check all connections beginning at the panel and through out the circuit.