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View Full Version : 20 Volts Neutral to Ground & 100 volts Neutral to Hot


jnef492
Oct 8, 2012, 08:52 PM
My outlets that have been working fine in my new house for 12 years suddenly went dead. I checked the breaker and it was not tripped. I measured the voltage and found 100 VAC from neutral to hot. I then measured Neutral to ground and found 20 VAC and 120 VAC from Hot to ground. Some how I am getting 20 volts on the neutral which explains why I'm only measuring 100 volts between neutral and hot. I change a GFI with no help. One last thing is the 2 outlets closest to the circuit breaker measure a perfect 120 vac where the circuits further down the line have the neutral 20vac. Also three of the 7 outlets are outside recepticals but appear OK on the surface.
How is this possible and what could the issue be?

hkstroud
Oct 9, 2012, 06:38 AM
Poor neutral connection somewhere. If outlets were wired using the "Quick Connect" holes in the back of the outlet, rewire using the screw terminals.