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    Tlake's Avatar
    Tlake Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Mar 30, 2008, 12:41 PM
    Receptacle trouble
    Hello,

    In my basement I have a receptacle that doesn't seem to work. I got out my trusty 3 wire circuit analyzer, and it is telling me that I have a open Neutral. I then turned off the power and took apart the outlet. I replaced the outlet with a different one, reconnected everything, and turned the power back on. I got the same trouble with the tester. I tested the other outlets on the same circuit, and they all test fine. Here is the troubling part. When there is nothing plugged in it gives me an open neutral trouble. When I plugged in a lamp, the tester said that I had a Hot and Gnd reveresed. When I checked the voltage with my DMM it says that Between the Hot and Neutral I have 92.XV. All the other outlets on the circuit tested normal at 115.xV. What would cause this condition, and how do I fix it.

    Thanks

    Tlake
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
    		  
    #2

    Mar 30, 2008, 12:44 PM
    Hot and ground reversed is a classic symptom of an open neutral.
    Remove every receptacle on that circuit and check the connections. The problem will lie in a seemingly working receptacle.
    If the wires are just stuck in the holes in the back more them to the screws on the sides.
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
    Uber Member
    		  
    #3

    Mar 31, 2008, 07:41 AM
    Check the 2 recepticles next to each other(One that is good, and one that is bad), and look for loose or disconnected white.
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