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    jimmycat's Avatar
    jimmycat Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Dec 11, 2007, 08:31 AM
    Open neutral wire in home
    Hi-
    I have a question about open neutral in my home.
    I have 4 of 7 elec. Wall plugs that show open neutral with plug tester.
    I have rewired all wire-nutted connections and checked all plug connections, and cannot find the loose wire. I talked to a Handyman and he said that I can jump my ground wire to my neutral side of plug and that would solve the problem. Is that correct? My house is wired with Romex. Please help.
    Ray
    KISS's Avatar
    KISS Posts: 12,510, Reputation: 839
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    #2

    Dec 11, 2007, 09:03 AM
    I'm assuming they are all on the same circuit. It's "possible" that the bar that shorts the neutral side of a duplex outlet is missing or faulty. This would make all the outlets downstream show open neutral and it could easily be overlooked.
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #3

    Dec 11, 2007, 10:15 AM
    Do not do this:

    Quote Originally Posted by jimmycat
    I talked to a Handyman and he said that I can jump my ground wire to my neutral side of plug and that would solve the problem.
    This is so wrong for many reasons.

    The only method to find this will be to use a voltage tester checking for volts across the hot and neutral at the beginning of the circuit, and work your way out to the end of the circuit until you find the breaker,
    labman's Avatar
    labman Posts: 10,580, Reputation: 551
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    #4

    Dec 11, 2007, 10:59 AM
    I wouldn't let him near my plumbing or heating either.
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #5

    Dec 13, 2007, 06:59 AM
    Check the receptacle that works just before the bad ones. Problem may be in that LAST working one. Like above, the ground is NOT to carry current, the Neutral is.
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #6

    Dec 13, 2007, 07:38 PM
    I pigtail 1 Neutral to a receptacle, Tab can break and multicircuit can go high. Hots can go through tab. What ever current code is, it is on the safe side.
    Plus, if changing out a receptacle Live, you won't be opening neutral(Multi circuit)
    Cobraguy's Avatar
    Cobraguy Posts: 140, Reputation: 11
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    #7

    Dec 14, 2007, 08:15 AM
    My God. Who is this handyman and where does he live? Do everyone a favor so they know not to call this guy.
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