house wiring problem

[Johnson110]

Help please, I have a switch in the bathroom that has 2 black wires and 2 white wires, several outlets are not in the area of the bathroom switch, if I put my meter lead to one black on one white or even both blacks I am not getting voltage, However If I put my meter to one black and the other lead to the switch box I get 12 volts and the outlets that that were not working are not working ! The box itself is acting a hot lead! Please any help!

 

[JCF350]

Re: house wiring problem

To be honest? Put your voltmeter away and call an electrician.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: house wiring problem

The outlets that are not working is a clue to your problem. It sounds like the grounds (bare wires) are connected to the box and that is why you read 120V from black (hot wire from circuit breaker) to the box. Check the outlets that are not working and look for a broken/corroded or loose white wire (nuetral) in one of them. The logical place to start would be the one closest to the circuit breaker panel.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: house wiring problem

I am assuming you have metal boxes and you have conduit or romex with the ground wire grounding the box...this is normal. You absolutely should have 120 volts between the black(hot) wire and the grounded box. That is completly normal. You should also have 120V between the black(hot) wire and the white(neutral) since the neutral and the grounds are connected at the circuit breaker box.

 

[joed]

Re: house wiring problem

Since this is in a bathroom did you look around for a GFCI receptacle to reset. In older homes they were put in the garage, outdoors, basement or other bathroom. Most of the time the GFCI is found in the garage behind a pile of boxes or the beer fridge.
The 12 volts you are measuring is nothing. Your hot wire is open. Did you check the breaker. Turn it off and then back on. If it is tripped sometimes they still look on.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: house wiring problem

Hmmm...is this 12V you are measuring or 120V. Are you measuring with your meter set to AC?

 

[Jerico]

Re: house wiring problem

Is the switch for lights or outlets? Is it double or triple switched - 2/3 switches for 1 light?

It is common to use the box as a 3rd wire ground or for the bare ground wire to ground the box by touching it. Are you getting 12 volts or 120 volts black wire to the box? If 12, that makes me wonder if something isn't shorted or back feeding into the circuit.

As previously stated, look for a GFCI outlet or breaker. Could be anywhere in the circuit. For example the one for my bathroom is built into an outlet in my garage.

If unsure or confused call an electrician. They cost, but are cheaper than a funeral.

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: house wiring problem

Switch should control Light, two black and two white wires are one pair is Hot "in" one pair is "out" to light, should work like this, black to switch whites twisted together! Outlets not working are another issue,if any are in Bath,Kitchen,look for a "GFI" that is "Tripped"

 

[Coors]

Re: house wiring problem

If it is actually 12 volts-I live in an older place, was reading 60 volts in some places.
turned out, some receptacles were in series, along with a switch. A loose connection upstream, at the first receptacle almost killed, and gave only 60 volts to everything after it.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: house wiring problem

Sounds like the house was built before a 3 wire circuit was code. If you have an energized receptacle box this can be caused by an appliance that is wired wrong. Its a safety hazard for sure. Unless you are a pretty good electrican you best call one.

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: house wiring problem

Most house electric is simple, Black and sometimes Red is always a conductor, "HOT" Whites, Green and bare wires are Grounds. Switches go between the Black wires. Outlets are almost always "hot" unless the are "Switched, as in a Lamp outlett ! Outlets are wired with two Black wires on one side and two White wires on the other side. Sometimes on a three wire system if you have Metal Handy boxes the ground wire is attached to the "Box" You will always read current to ground,so if it "Ground" is attached to box You will read at box,from black to the box. Older two wire system has no green or bare wire almost always Black and White Wires,white is the ground. If you are on reg.house current, on a meter you should read at least 110 Volts. This is pretty much general.

 

[Johnson110]

Re: house wiring problem

Thanks to all, But after checking with my meter I am going to call in an electrican this one is over my head! Again Thank you for all the advice!!

 

[dave11]

Re: house wiring problem

Good decision. While he is there, have him check out the whole house. With one problem like that, there are probably other problems.

 

[Johnson110]

Re: house wiring problem

Ok so I got lucky The electrican happens to live one block over, Anyhow he found one bad outlet no netural loose wire, checked all other outlets and fixed the problem charged me 50 bucks! I am going to get him a case of beer too! Super nice guy!!

 

[Lakester]

Re: house wiring problem

Ok so I got lucky The electrican happens to live one block over, Anyhow he found one bad outlet no netural loose wire, checked all other outlets and fixed the problem charged me 50 bucks! I am going to get him a case of beer too! Super nice guy!!

hello,

so u see... iboats helped u after all!!




glad u got it handled... even 110/115 can bite.

regards
lakester

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: house wiring problem

hello,

so u see... iboats helped u after all!!




glad u got it handled... even 110/115 can bite.

regards
lakester

Actually, there are more deaths from 120 volts, compared to say 240volts... reason being that 120 is enough to tighten your muscles, not allowing you to let go. if the juice has a path through the heart... say bye bye. 240 on the other hand, will possibly "throw" you away from it.

Im not a professional, nor do I know everything about electricity, but it's a shame that so many people think that 120 volts is "harmless" or will "just bite a bit".