DIY & Home Improvement

BillZBubb

(10,650 posts)

22. Nope, you are wrong.

Sat Mar 22, 2014, 10:44 AM

Mar 2014

Due to the resistance from the white lead back to the service, it has a voltage OFFSET from true ground that varies with the load on that circuit. Yes, it is grounded at the service, but it's voltage level is load dependent at the point of use. It does not represent true ground--unless their is little to no load on the circuit. Look up Ground Potential Differences if you don't know about this problem.

The third wire doesn't carry any current load back to the service UNLESS there is a problem. So, there is no voltage offset and it can be considered true ground.

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23 replies

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Electrical question [View all] Holly_Hobby Mar 2014 OP

He;s right. ret5hd Mar 2014 #1

Thank you...this is astounding to me Holly_Hobby Mar 2014 #2

The prime question is what is the wiring from the breaker box to the outlets? PoliticAverse Mar 2014 #3

The wiring is original, Holly_Hobby Mar 2014 #4

Your husband is correct BillZBubb Mar 2014 #5

Wrong, sorry... Callmecrazy Mar 2014 #18

Nope, you are wrong. BillZBubb Mar 2014 #22

Yes, you're technically correct. Callmecrazy Mar 2014 #23

He's right. JoeyT Mar 2014 #6

Yikes...I suppose the only fix is Holly_Hobby Mar 2014 #7

You've got a few options. jeff47 Mar 2014 #9

Thank you so much for taking the time n/t Holly_Hobby Mar 2014 #10

He's right Warpy Mar 2014 #8

Thank you - you won't believe where the fuse box is - Holly_Hobby Mar 2014 #11

Are your wires in conduit, flexible metallic cable or non-metallic cable (romex)? Hassin Bin Sober Mar 2014 #12

The current wiring is 2 wires, Holly_Hobby Mar 2014 #13

Just to be clear. Are you talking about the coating on the wires themselves or how the .... Hassin Bin Sober Mar 2014 #14

This is the most important answer... Callmecrazy Mar 2014 #17

do you think s house built in 1959 Wash. state Desk Jet Mar 2014 #19

My parent's house was a 50s house with cloth wire in thin wall pipe. Cook county Hassin Bin Sober Mar 2014 #20

Thanks bin sober, thats interesting Wash. state Desk Jet Mar 2014 #21

Jeff47's option 3 is a common cure. Wash. state Desk Jet Mar 2014 #15

If you go the route of grounding selected outlets Wash. state Desk Jet Mar 2014 #16