110 outlet
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wssix99
Well-known member
I had this exact same problem. It was a bad multi-metet.
I'd first check your other outlets and also check everything with a second meter.
I'd first check your other outlets and also check everything with a second meter.
sparky 1971
Well-known member
What type of circuit is it on? If it's a living/bedroom/family room type circuit, check the outlets that are closest to the one in question, that includes the other side of the wall. Take the receptacle out of the box and look to see if they have been stab wired and fed through. If that's the case, take all the wires off and pigtail them. 75% of the time, that's the problem on 20+ year old houses. It could be a bad connection somewhere like a junction box, but start with the simple things.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Check the upstream outlet...
thanks for the replys . I should have given more info ( my bad ) . I have 2 outlets that read 65v and I replaced 1 receptical which I think is the first one in the circuit. no ground faults in circuits in this kitchen. On the outlet that I replaced I have pig tails tails that I screw in. I checked voltage with 2 meters . 1 Fluke and 1 craftsman , both show 65v , and show 110 v on other outlets .
sparky 1971
Well-known member
Go to other receptacles in the kitchen. There are probably more than those two on that circuit, but maybe not. Just because an outlet appears to be working, doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist there. It might be on the same wall in the kitchen, it might be on another wall, but the problem is more than likely a connection at another receptacle. See if you can find the breaker for the circuit you are working on and turn it off. Your voltage reading should go to 0. Then see if any others are off with the breaker off. If so, your problem is in one of those, and probably the outlet closest to the two that have 65 volts.
Should be 120v
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
are you sure its measuring 110v? even that is a bit low. nominal voltage for residential service in the US is 120v...
What are you measuring between. If you are seeing 65v to ground on the hot, it could be a floating neutral. If so You would see a volyage to ground on the neutral too, and can be verified with power off and all loads disconnected by checking that the neutral is grounded. If you are reading 65v between the hot and neutral, I would expect a bad connection somewhere and check the circuit breaker first.
sparky 1971
Well-known member
Ok. Since you know which breaker runs that circuit, take the cover off of the panel. Check the voltage at that breaker. If it's 120, follow the wire from it to where it comes into the panel. There will be a black and white, depending on the age of the house, there will probably be a ground wire, and in the off chance it's a MWBC, there will be a red wire. Follow the white wire to where it connects to the neutral bar and verify that it's tightened under the screw. If there wasn't a red wire, turn the breaker off and disconnect the white. Cut the end off, strip it and put it back under the screw and tighten it up. That's one of the first things I check, but there has only been one time I can think of that it wss the actual problem.
And... You did take apart both of the outlets and reconnect the wires, correct?
Do that and report back.
And... You did take apart both of the outlets and reconnect the wires, correct?
Do that and report back.
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Jim greengo
Well-known member
Open neutral.
My bad on saying 110v , you are right it is 120v , its probably a HERE thing as everybody calls an outlet 110 ( half of 220 ) .
I have had both outlets that show 65v covers off and replaced one with new receptacle and no loose screws on the other one.. My reason for replacing one with new one was thinking it was the first one on the circuit , and did not make any difference .
I have not checked breakers or wires in the breaker box. House was built in 1990 .
I have had both outlets that show 65v covers off and replaced one with new receptacle and no loose screws on the other one.. My reason for replacing one with new one was thinking it was the first one on the circuit , and did not make any difference .
I have not checked breakers or wires in the breaker box. House was built in 1990 .
sparky 1971
Well-known member
How many wires are feeding the outlets? If there are truly only two outlets on the circuit, one should have two blacks and two whites, the other should only have one of each, along with the grounds. This is in reference to the outlet with two of each wires. Do both sets attach to the outlet or are they pigtailed? Pigtailing is where they are connected together with a third wire (tail) being connected to the receptacle. Or, is it a gfci?
And...It's half of 240, not 220.
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sparky 1971
Well-known member
Another thing I thought of is to check the dining room outlet circuit. I don't know of anyone that regularly uses them, so they could be affected without you knowing. They ate allowed to be on the kitchen countertop circuit. Check the voltage there and also turn off the breaker again to verify that they are/aren't on that circuit.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
when youre diagnosing voltage issues, its critical to call it what it is. otherwise, it becomes hard to figure out over the internet.
110 & 220 is a HERE thing , always say or reference outlets as 110 or 220 in my neck of the woods .
No gfci outlets in kitchen or bathroom .
5 wires to the outlet , 2 blk ,2 wht , plus
4 outlets to the circuit that I can tell when I shut the breaker off . When breaker is on I have 2 outlets @ 120 , and 2 outlets @65 .
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I think you are telling me that there are four outlets that are controlled by the breaker. Two have 120 volts, the other two have 65 volts. Correct? If that's the case, the problem is in one of the outlets that still has 120. Take apart the wires on the outlet that is closest to the problem outlets. Remake the connections, and pigtail them if they aren't already. If that doesn't solve the problem, do the same with the other outlet. If that doesn't fix it, you either have bigger problems or there is more on the circuit than you realize.
lolaetype
Well-known member
In our last house I had an outlet that was only delivering 90 volts. It was the only outlet on that breaker. I called an electrician and he traced it to a bad breaker. It wasn't tightly gripping the bars in the breaker box. He replaced it and all was well.
nadogail
Well-known member
You might have an open Neutral, I have seen open neutrals cause some strange symptoms.
FredWanaker
Well-known member
Don't shock yourself. You will want to measure the voltage at each receptacle on the circuit. If you have 2 at 120V and 2 at 65V the problem is a bad connection at one of the receptacles that get 120V. If so turn the breaker off, measure to be sure it is off and tighten all the connections in the last box to have 120V. If those 2 65 V ones are the only two on the circuit then check the voltage at the breaker. Also if the wires are just stabbed in the back of the receptacles, that can be the issue too.
I normally wouldn't just say call an electrician but anytime there is an un-engineered voltage drop like that, the location of the defect is generating heat. Hiring an electrician might be cheaper than a burned down house. The licensed electrician I use charges about $100 an hour so lately it is easier to call him on some things than do it myself. Keeping money circulating locally with good people is never a bad thing. Somehow it always finds its way home when I get extra business or something.
I normally wouldn't just say call an electrician but anytime there is an un-engineered voltage drop like that, the location of the defect is generating heat. Hiring an electrician might be cheaper than a burned down house. The licensed electrician I use charges about $100 an hour so lately it is easier to call him on some things than do it myself. Keeping money circulating locally with good people is never a bad thing. Somehow it always finds its way home when I get extra business or something.
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Metal-Marc
Well-known member
Yup, calling an electrician is always the correct answer for those who don't know much about electricity. It's a better option than burning down the house or electrocuting yourself.
Happy wife, happy life.
Thank you for your help ....You nailed the problemHappy wife, happy life.