GFCI Tester - Dim Orange Light - Reversed Hot/Neutral When Button Pressed
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GFCI Tester - Dim Orange Light - Reversed Hot/Neutral When Button Pressed
Hello all,
I was checking all my electrical outlets with a GFCI tester. All outlets show correctly wired. Came across one outlet (non-GFCI) where the right orange light is dim. Googled and found that it may be poor ground.
Strange thing is when I press the button on the GFCI tester, red light and middle orange light come on indicating reversed hot/neutral. All other non-GFCI outlets don’t give this result when I press the button. All other outlets have two orange lights remain lit.
Any thoughts what might be going on with this outlet?
I was checking all my electrical outlets with a GFCI tester. All outlets show correctly wired. Came across one outlet (non-GFCI) where the right orange light is dim. Googled and found that it may be poor ground.
Strange thing is when I press the button on the GFCI tester, red light and middle orange light come on indicating reversed hot/neutral. All other non-GFCI outlets don’t give this result when I press the button. All other outlets have two orange lights remain lit.
Any thoughts what might be going on with this outlet?
Last edited by new_diyer; 05-11-18 at 11:38 PM. Reason: Title too vague
#3
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This only makes sense if the middle orange is also ON before you press the button.
In that case what Tolyn said is right. When you press the button, a small current is passed from hot to ground to trip a GFCI, but if your ground is not grounded, it would float and carry a voltage/current sufficient to turn on the red light that sits between ground and neutral.
That's a good trick question. I have to draw a diagram to figure this out.
In that case what Tolyn said is right. When you press the button, a small current is passed from hot to ground to trip a GFCI, but if your ground is not grounded, it would float and carry a voltage/current sufficient to turn on the red light that sits between ground and neutral.
That's a good trick question. I have to draw a diagram to figure this out.
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Thanks for the responses. I opened up the boxes as well as follow wires in the attic. Found the culprit in a junction box inside the attic— ground wire was loose. Reattached the ground wire and problem solved.