Low voltage to other outlets
#1
02-10-19, 02:46 PM
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: United States
Posts: 11
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
Low voltage to other outlets
I have no idea how this house is wired. I do know these outlets are on the same breaker. The closest receptacle to the box only reads 110v with only two wires coming in. That is in one room, on the opposite side of the wall ( a separate room) that outlet is working with 120v The rest of the outlets all read 110v I used a plugin circuit tester and all the outlets read good. I have pulled every outlet and inspected for loose wires all are fine. What would cause this power drop and how do I find it? Ty in advance for your help.
#2
02-10-19, 03:02 PM
Group Moderator
110 volts is will within nominal voltage and is not an issue unless it is dropping further (under 100 volts) when putting a load on a circuit. Anything plus or minus 10% is OK.
Are you experiencing any issues?
Are you experiencing any issues?
#8
02-10-19, 05:43 PM
Group Moderator
If a load causes it to drop...... leave the load connected and measure from the hot(small slot) to the neutral(large slot) and from hot to ground. This will determine whether it's a hot problem or a loose neutral.
#9
02-10-19, 06:08 PM
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: United States
Posts: 11
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
@PjMax Here is what I have without a load I have 110.6 from Hot to neutral. Hot to ground I have 122.7v neutral to ground 11.7v With a load hot to neutral 21.9v hot to ground 122.9v neutral to ground 100.9v
#12
02-12-19, 05:36 PM
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: United States
Posts: 11
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
I wanted to thank everyone for their help. I have it narrowed down to about an 8 ft stretch of wire in the wall the mice must have got at. I even made a makeshift jumper to test and bypass that outlet and bam everything else works. Now I hope I can get lucky and fish another line through. This house was built in the 40's and was originally a hunting cabin. Who knows what's in that wall. lol
#13
02-12-19, 06:37 PM
Group Moderator
It is almost impossible for a mouse to chew through a copper wire. The most they will do it chew off the insulation. Take a close look at the two device boxes on either end of the suspect cable. It is more likely that the issue is in one of those boxes.
That said, since you said it was a cabin it is also possible that somebody made a splice in the wall, put a junction box on the other side of the wall, or under the floor.
That said, since you said it was a cabin it is also possible that somebody made a splice in the wall, put a junction box on the other side of the wall, or under the floor.
#14
02-16-19, 04:38 AM
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: United States
Posts: 11
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
Be aware!
Here is an update on my situation, and a helpful warning for all of you. The problem I was having was in the wall. The wires shorted to the point the neutral wire was burned clean away.
This is the second time this happened to me once before with thermostat wire. Both times the wires were had that spray can foam insulation touching the wires.
That foam seems to have some kind of chemical reaction with wiring that eats at the wire to the point they become bare and short themselves out. I spayed that insulation where the problem outlet was years ago because the mice were chewing through the wall where the outlet was.
In the case of the thermostat wire that foam insulation was there when I bought the house and the thermostat wire was encased right through the middle of the insulation. That wire was eaten completely away when I pulled it from the foam to run a new line.
This is scary to me when I think of how many people us that spray foam around their receptacles. Please be aware of this! I am going to copy this to a new post in order to warn more people.
This is the second time this happened to me once before with thermostat wire. Both times the wires were had that spray can foam insulation touching the wires.
That foam seems to have some kind of chemical reaction with wiring that eats at the wire to the point they become bare and short themselves out. I spayed that insulation where the problem outlet was years ago because the mice were chewing through the wall where the outlet was.
In the case of the thermostat wire that foam insulation was there when I bought the house and the thermostat wire was encased right through the middle of the insulation. That wire was eaten completely away when I pulled it from the foam to run a new line.
This is scary to me when I think of how many people us that spray foam around their receptacles. Please be aware of this! I am going to copy this to a new post in order to warn more people.
