Re: Circuit tester


"Zing" <dhssux513@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1125527040.853677.150030@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> My house was built in 1952 and I am not the original owner.
> The original part of the house has 2 wire Romex WITHOUT ground since it
> was a post WW II home built for returning servicemen.
> Attic and gargage have 3 wire Romex and is installed correctly.
>
> When I plug a CIRCUIT TESTER - the kind of thing you buy in Depot or
> similar with 3 neon lights on it = a yellow, red, clear lens - I get
> readings that are not on the sample display on the label on the unit.
>
> They give readings for CORRECT or REVERSED POLARITY, OPEN GROUND, OPEN
> HOT, etc.
>
> I get the YELLOW lens BRIGHTLY LIT and BOTH the red and clear lenses
> DIMLY LIT on any number of wall outlets.
>
> Without "smart" answers, anyone have an idea of what to look for ?????
>
> House has been this way for better part of 32 years.
>
> TIA
>

Well to be honest, as you know the house has no ground wire you shouldn't
be surprised that the neon lights are not showing "normal".
But as all of those testers have 3 prongs, how are you even getting them
into the 2 prong outlets ????

If you have 3 prong outlets, no doubt they were changed somewhere (by a
handy homeowner?) along the line and some have the polarity reversed on the
existing hot and neutral, or worse.

BTW the old style paper/tar romex with no ground was common in a lot of
areas as late as the 1960's
And is still legal (grandfathered) where it was installed.

But as most times it went in with 60A services, using fuses, and usually
only one outlet per room, you may want to think about doing some major
electrical upgrading soon to handle all the electrical toys that now exist.

AMUN


.

Relevant Pages

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