House Outlet Question

One of my bedroom wall outlets was cracked so I got a new one and went to change it out. When I pulled the old outlet from the wall, I found the ground wire connected to the green ground lug as it is supposed to be, but it is also connected to the neutral white wires as well. When I put the wires where they are supposed to be, my circuit tester indicates an open neutral. Should I tie the ground wire back to the neutral side of the outlet, or does this indicate a problem elsewhere. It's not a GFI outlet.

 

You will have to search for a defective Neural connection in other oulet-boxes. The most common type of such a defective connection is at receptacle outlets where the Neutral conductors are connected by inserting the wire into a slot in the back of the device- an extremely un-reliable connection.

I suggest you invest a few dollars in a pair of crimping pliers, a box of crimp-lugs for #14 wire, and a few ft of stranded White #14 THHN wire.

When you have determined what other receptacle outlets are on the same circuit as the one with the problem, check the connections at these recepacles.At receptacles with two White wires connected, dis-connect the two Whire wires, twist them together with side-cutting pliers, and using the #14 THHN White stranded wire, wire-nut a 6" "device-lead" to the two connected wire.Crimp a lug on the end of the lead that connects to the recepacle for a reliable termination.

With this connection, the "continuity" (closed-circuit) of the Branch-Circuit does not rely upon device-connections.


Good Luck, & Learn & Enjoy from the Experience!!!!!!

 

Under no circumstances should you connect the ground and the neutral wire. Some idiot before you did this because they were too lazy to search for the open neutral. They created an extremely dangerous situation. Do not allow it to continue.

As PATTBAA stated, you will have to find and fix the open neutral. It is at one of the junction boxes on the circuit. It could be at a working or non-working location, so you will have to check them all. While you are doing this, move any back stabbed connections to the screw terminals.

 

I have submitted a warranty claim as the house is brand new. I remember telling the foreman that there was a bad outlet in that room. They all checked good with a tester on final walk through. Just by luck, I found out how it was fixed. Thanks again.

 

Good luck with the warranty claim. You'll need it.

 

Forget a warranty claim. The house is brand new? Most contractors provide a on year warranty. Go find yout contractor and grab him by the neck!