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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Columbus GA
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    3,747

    Default What causes this

    Using a 3 lite tester.
    Duplex receptacle, not controlled by switch
    Bottom of duplex shows normal
    Upper of duplex shows open ground
    found 3 like this in the house
    2 different rooms
    both rooms had other outlets that showed correct.

    Did not remove receptacle.

    Crawl Space Creeper
    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  2. #2
    James Duffin's Avatar
    James Duffin Guest

    Default Re: What causes this

    Since there is no break-off tab for the ground that allows you to separate the two halves of the receptacle I would say you have bad receptacles.


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: What causes this

    Quote Originally Posted by James Duffin View Post
    Since there is no break-off tab for the ground that allows you to separate the two halves of the receptacle I would say you have bad receptacles.

    Or a bad tester.

    Those cheapie 3-light testers are too cheap to use and rely on professionally.

    Was the 3-light tester a cheapie one or a higher quality 3-light tester (not that I like them either, but at least they are better quality and usable for more than just 'night-lights'.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Columbus GA
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    Default Re: What causes this

    Sorry, I misspoke, not an open ground, but open neutral.


    "Was the 3-light tester a cheapie one or a higher quality 3-light tester (not that I like them either, but at least they are better quality and usable for more than just 'night-lights'"

    I do not consider any thing I pay for as "Cheap"
    And I did not know there are "better quality" 3 lite testers available.
    But it is an Ideal tester

    "Or a bad tester."

    Only on those plug ins?

    I'm thinking bad receptacles, just wanted to know if anyone has seen this.
    Thanks for your suggestions.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
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    Default Re: What causes this

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell View Post
    Sorry, I misspoke, not an open ground, but open neutral.
    Probably worn-out receptacles with loose contacts.

    "Was the 3-light tester a cheapie one or a higher quality 3-light tester (not that I like them either, but at least they are better quality and usable for more than just 'night-lights'"

    I do not consider any thing I pay for as "Cheap"
    And I did not know there are "better quality" 3 lite testers available.
    But it is an Ideal tester
    The Ideal 3-light tester is a "better quality" one those those $10 ones at the big box stores, and when someone says 3-light tester, those are the ones which come to mind ...

    "Or a bad tester."

    Only on those plug ins?
    Yep, with those cheapie 3-light night lights ... er ... testers.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  6. #6
    James Duffin's Avatar
    James Duffin Guest

    Default Re: What causes this

    I will change my guess to somebody has broken the break-off tab off of the neutral side of the receptacle. It is possible that the electrician had a bunch of receptacles that had been used on other jobs and grabbed some that had the neutral break-out tab broken off and then were not needed. I did some repairs on a house about three months ago that had one receptacle like that.


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Columbus GA
    Posts
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    Default Re: What causes this

    Thanks Jerry, and James

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

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