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Voltage when light switch is off

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06-07-14, 05:54 PM

redier

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Voltage when light switch is off

Fairly new to home electrical work. I know a basic understanding of electricity from college circuits classes, but not much experience with home electrical work.

I just rewired for a ceiling light fixture. When the switch is in the on position I get 120V between hot and neutral, like I would expect, but when I switch it to the off position I get 13V.

Not sure if that is normal or not. I do have an older switch. Could that be the issue? Or should I check all my wiring again?

Thanks,
-Steve

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06-07-14, 06:41 PM

ray2047

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Quote:

but when I switch it to the off position I get 13V

I'll bet you are using a digital multimeter. Only a few expensive one have the needed circuits to filter out ghost voltages. However if you use an analog multimeter, even a $10 one, you would probably get ~0 volts because of its much lower impedance. See also: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...m-voltage.html

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06-07-14, 08:26 PM

redier

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Yup! I was using a digital multimeter. I went out and bought an analog one, and with that one I was measuring 0V

Thanks, Ray.

-Steve

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