Not really weird. 120V loads are wired in series across the 240V lines with the loads on each side of the transformer in parallel. The neutral wire provides a bypass path for current flow to balance while keeping the voltage at the neutral junction constant. Without a neutral wire, the voltage of the neutral point moves toward the leg that’s most lightly loaded. If the loads are equal, everything works fine, but as soon as one side gets a heavier load the voltage on the other side goes up.
That's a good starting point, but.........high resistance connections can easily cause a voltage drop to occur across it and the load may see a different voltage than seen at no load. Watch the vm's as you apply the loads....they shouldn't swing too far from no load readings.
A missing neutral does not show up on an unloaded circuit. Your meters will read exactly the same unloaded with or without a neutral in place.
If you have not done the math it is very weird. the 500 Watt lamp will not light and the 5 Watt lamp will be super bright for a short time.
Very true. Those voltmeter with no load only provide a false sense of what's going on.
No, they would each still read 120V because they are in series.
Probably read 240 if you had 480 coming out, otherwise, see post 16.
No it won't unless you apply an imbalanced load.
not how a series circuit works
Have three meters. Meters are wired before the generator sub panel with its own breaker/ safety disconnect to two watt meters. Two 120vac meters wired from each watt meter to neutral panel bar. 240 vax meter is wired across each watt meter. If neutral from panel to gen is lost the 120vac meters are across 240 vac and the two meters are in series.
and two meters in series across 240V will each measure 120V.
With no load or a nearly balanced loads this is correct.