crap! home electric issue

[masraum]

Thanks Snowman. I understood the test and agree that it would be the best way to test. I was going to do that Sat.

Fortunately, even though I didn't work on it at all tonight when I got home, I managed to find and fix the problem. I got a wild hair and decided to test a couple of other things. Figuring that the wiring may not make much sense I went ahead and tested a couple of other outlets. There were two outlets in a third room that were also on this circuit, and, I believe, the beginning of the circuit.

I plugged my tester into one outlet and turned on one of the switches and noticed my tester do it's thing (hot/ground reversed). I also noticed a buzzing noise. I took that outlet apart and put it back together and again noticed the noise which led me to the culprit. It had a connection that was obviously bad. I took it apart and put it back together and everything is working again. I still have all of the outlets uncovered, but I put the switch plates back on. I'll put the rest of the house back together tomorrow.

Thanks everyone for all of the help!!!

[rick-l]

Originally posted by masraum
I noticed my tester do it's thing (hot/ground reversed). I also noticed a buzzing noise.

I trust you put it back together with[list=1][*]clean piece of the wire[*]oxidation preventer on the wire.[*]the al compatible outlet is clean [*]a working smoke alarm[/list=1]

[carambola]

good job

[masraum]

Originally posted by rick-l
I trust you put it back together with[list=1][*]clean piece of the wire[*]oxidation preventer on the wire.[*]the al compatible outlet is clean [*]a working smoke alarm[/list=1]

Yep. I know, the buzzing noise is bad. I've lived with this Al wiring for about 10 years. I've had plenty of weird crap happen in that time.

[rick-l]

Do you think this is what is in that tester he has? Those are neon bulbs.

[snowman]

I can't come up with a tester that would show the hot./ground fault without also showing another fault as well. Interesting problem.