Log in

View Full Version : Hot/Grd. Reverse when I tested my circuits with an analyzer


andydani
Apr 26, 2008, 11:24 PM
I plugged a vacuum into a receptacle in my house. When it was plugged in it made a pop sound and everything within the circuits went out. I tried resetting all the breakers in my breaker box... I replace 4 of them so far and I cannot get any of the circuits back up and all the breakers that were working before are still fine. I bought an Ideal circuit analyzer and all the circuits on this line all show Hot/Grd. Reverse when I plug it in. Where do I go from here:confused: :mad: :(
If you have any ideas I would be more than happy to try them.

Thank you, Ben Bohm

KISS
Apr 27, 2008, 02:33 AM
Your post is a confusing, but I'll do the best I can.

Receptacles are daisy chained. Meaning there is power in and power out to the next receptacle.

Hot/Gnd reversed means that white is not connected to the chrome screw and black is not connected to the brass screw. Somewhere in the chain, the white and black wires are not connected properly.

i.e. the correct connections are:

What to chrome screw
Blk to brass screw

stanfortyman
Apr 27, 2008, 05:45 AM
"Hot / Ground reversed" is a classic symptom of an open neutral on the circuit.

Go to every receptacle on this circuit and check the connections. If the wires are just stuck into the oles in the back, move them to the screws. Be sure to "loop" the wires and put them on the screws in a clockwise orientation. The end of the wire should look like an "r" when you put it on the screw.

Do this and you will find your problem. The only other things it could be are a bad neutral connection at the panel buss bar and/or a bad neutral splice somewhere. A bad connection at a receptacle is a more likely bet.