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Voltage Between White Neutral And Gnd Wire Question In House Wiring ?

R

Robert11

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hello:

Have been trying to get some smoke detectors interconnected, and
during the trouble shooting of the problem, I measured (with an analog
voltmeter) the voltage between the white neutral, and the bare copper ground
wire in the
box.

Was very surprised to see that it was about 2 V AC.

Other than the fairly obvious reasons, such as bad ground connections in the
service box for the neutral or gnd, or within the wiring chain itself, was
wondering if anyone might have any other thoughts or opinions on this.

Might as well add this: The smoke detectors were on line, and functioning,
when I measured.
The interconnect for the smoke detectors (the third, red, wire ) uses the
white neutral (also) as it's return. And, measuring a few outlets around
the house showed 0
voltage between the neutral and gnd as one would expect.

But, even if the smokes were dumping something on the white neutral, it
being at gnd potential, would "sink" these voltages immediately, I would
think, if the neutral was grounded well.
So, what might be happening ?

BTW: How "common" is it to see voltages of this magnitude between the white
neutral and ground ?

Thanks,
B.
 
C

Charles Perry

Jan 1, 1970
0
Robert11 said:
Hello:

Have been trying to get some smoke detectors interconnected, and
during the trouble shooting of the problem, I measured (with an analog
voltmeter) the voltage between the white neutral, and the bare copper
ground wire in the
box.

Was very surprised to see that it was about 2 V AC.

Other than the fairly obvious reasons, such as bad ground connections in
the
service box for the neutral or gnd, or within the wiring chain itself,
was
wondering if anyone might have any other thoughts or opinions on this.

Might as well add this: The smoke detectors were on line, and functioning,
when I measured.
The interconnect for the smoke detectors (the third, red, wire ) uses the
white neutral (also) as it's return. And, measuring a few outlets around
the house showed 0
voltage between the neutral and gnd as one would expect.

But, even if the smokes were dumping something on the white neutral, it
being at gnd potential, would "sink" these voltages immediately, I would
think, if the neutral was grounded well.
So, what might be happening ?

V = I x R

The neutral is not a magic, superconductor. It has resistance. It and the
grounded conductor are only bonded (according to US code) at a single point
in the service panel. A current flowing on the neutral will cause a voltage
between any point and the ground bonding point. The higher the current, and
the farther from the panel, the higher the voltage.

Charles Perry P.E.
 
W

w_tom

Jan 1, 1970
0
To summarize what Charles Perry has stated - electricity at
both ends of a wire is not same. Wire is another electrical
component in that circuit. However if smoke detectors (on a
15 amp circuit) created 2 volts difference, well, be
suspicious. Smoke detectors draw so little current. Voltage
difference should not be that large between neutral and safety
ground wire. 2 volts is not considered dangerous. But the
difference should not be that large.

Verify all connections on neutral and ground wires between
smoke detector and breaker box. Use the meter, as you did, to
learn voltage difference at each wire junction all the way
back to breaker box AND inside breaker box. Locate a loose
connection - most likely on neutral wire.

Again, there is no such thing as a conductor. Even wire is
an electronic device. It has inductance, capacitance, and
resistance. How much? This is why numbers are so important
AND why you must never assume voltage is same at both ends of
a wire.

Both safety ground and neutral wire join at the breaker
box. But electrically, both wires are different at the
receptacle end. Again, because wire has electronic
characteristics. But 2 volts is suspiciously large.
 
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