View Full Version : Hot and ground reverse
bigpoppie
Nov 6, 2011, 01:53 PM
My daughter called me to check a room at her house. She said that there was no power in that one room. I checked it with a tester and it showed hot and ground reversed. It only in that one room and it just started last seek. The house was built in 98. I can't figure it out.
ma0641
Nov 6, 2011, 03:37 PM
Did you pull the outlet? Hot and Ground reverse is not usual, hot and neutral is and an outlet will function wired that way. In older wiring, the neutral and ground wires connected to the same bar. What wires were connected to what terminals. If there was no power, how did you use a tester? Check the breaker?
stanfortyman
Nov 6, 2011, 04:33 PM
A hot and ground reversed reading is a sign of an open neutral. For some reason it shows up this way on those plug-in testers.
Find the open neutral, correct it, and your problem goes away. ;)
bigpoppie
Nov 8, 2011, 08:47 AM
I found it. The neutral on the first plug on the circuit had a loose neutral. Stab in type. I replace that recep and all is fine.
ma0641
Nov 8, 2011, 02:35 PM
Good for you! Thanks to stanfortyman for the tip, I'll remember that! Hate to tell you how many back wired outlets I have replaced, burned wires, outlets, loose hot and neutral. At least you can't use them for 12AWG anymore.
stanfortyman
Nov 8, 2011, 03:33 PM
Thanks for the feedback Poppie. :) Not everyone is that conscientious.