I have a sticky problem. I am remodeling a old house where some of the electrical wiring and main panel has been replaced. The homeowner wanted me to install a range hood and a fluorescent light underneath the sink. I am a licensed contractor, licensed plumber and have a limited electrical license, so I can perform some basic wiring in the proper situations. The new electrical panel is directly outside the kitchen wall where the range hood was to be installed. A feed was already rolled up inside of an outlet box, and the other end was in the main panel, but not yet connected to a breaker.
I removed the single box and installed a double-gang box. Then I made a junction in the box and wired the range hood and a switch to the fluorescent over the sink. I also wired a GFCI outlet in the same box. I tested the GFCI with my plug-in tester and it tested correct.
Here's the first problem. The fluorescent light would not work. I purchased another one and wired it, but it would not work either. I wired the fluorescent light on another circuit, but it still would not work.
Then the home owner told me that he had a problem getting his fluorescent lights to work in the house. He said that he had to run a bare ground wire to one of them in order to get it to work. That got my attention.
I tested the hot wire with my meter and it read 148 VAC. In addition, when I leaned my arm on the top of the metal stove and inadvertently touched the neutral wire, I received a substantial shock. However, I cannot detect any voltage in the neutral wire with my tester when measuring it against the ground wire.
The house also feeds a sub panel to a shop building. I suspect that the sub panel is not wired correctly or the neutral or ground has been compromised somewhere in the house or shop circuit.
Here's the sticky part. The homeowner pulled the electrical permit himself and his father-in-law, who is supposedly an electrical engineer, partially re-wired the house. The electrical inspector tuned the job down three times and the homeowner told me that he was a bad inspector. I don't think so.
However, if I am going to explain what is wrong with this wiring I will need more than my level of understanding electricity to get my point across diplomatically. Anyone have a suggestion?
