ECN Forum Forums Technical Discussion Electrical Theory and Applications Neutral question

Hello I am new to ECN. It seems like a nice community of experienced electricians. Also a great reference as I am gaining more experience in this trade.

There are 18 sub panels that go to the meter stack in the closet (125 amp, 2 hot).

One of my co-workers installed a range outlet (50 amp) and the ground wire ended up touching one of the hot terminals on the back of the receptacle. I was installing devices in another suite when I used a meter I got a reading of 120 volts on the neutral. Even the hot with both breakers off was reading 106 volts to ground (at the sub panel). I managed to find the problem and fixed it.

How could there be voltage in another suite(s)?

Thanks


[This message has been edited by canuck (edited 07-20-2006).]

My guess is that someone installed the bonding jumper between the earth and the neutral at the sub panel your coworker was working in, and did not connect the ground wire coming from the main service.

The voltage you are reading is the 120 Volts from that neutral, going thru some small load to the hot leg, and then thru your meter to the properly connected ground in your subpanel.

Canuck - You're located where (approximately)? I'm with Larry on this - and I think you are in dire need of an experienced electrician to check all the wiring, starting at the meter stack. You have a potentially serious condition here.

Radar

There are people with 30+ years experience (also the engineer) dealing with this now. I was just the person who discovered this issue and was curious about a possible explanation.

Everything in the sub panel and stack are fine (installed by qualified electricians). I'll let you know when the problem has be resolved.

I start school in a few days and I am looking forward to learning more about power distribution systems.

[This message has been edited by canuck (edited 07-27-2006).]

[This message has been edited by canuck (edited 07-27-2006).]