Wierd Tester (Ringer) Issue....Little Help, Please

[robertwhite]

I am running new wire in a kitchen remodel. No big deal, run tons of wire.

Soooooo, Bring 12/2 (3 wire) into a junction box in the crawlspace, and tie it in series into an existing (new 12/2 from a couple years ago). Simple right? It's only 3 wires. This is the only connection in the junction.

Flip the breaker and test each side of the connection with my ringer. I get tone coming in, but nothing out! WTF say's I.

Hit the connection with the ringer and have power to both sides of the connection. Go to the outlet that the old wire is going to, and I have power/tone. Go above it to a wall mounted TV and I have power, so power IS getting there, but I can not get the ringer to sound anywhere on the 6 ft run from the junction to where it goes into the sill plate.

Never seen this before. The ringer is not sensing current thru the insulation because ??????????

 

[Mustang51js]

How much did you pay for the testor

 

[robertwhite]

How much did you pay for the testor

It's a $30 tester, and it rings in the vicinity of any current (doesn't have to touch the wire). Works every other place in the whole house. It's doubt its the tester.

 

[pattenp]

Better check your wiring connections. If you get tone at the connection point but not at the end of the new run you didn't get a good connection. Check for a broken wire end in the wirenut, I assume your connection is done with wirenuts.

 

[robertwhite]

Better check your wiring connections. If you get tone at the connection point but not at the end of the new run you didn't get a good connection. Check for a broken wire end in the wirenut, I assume your connection is done with wirenuts.

I thought I explained it correctly, but maybe not..............

I AM getting tone & power at the end of the run. At all wires, plugs and receptacles.

I AM getting tone & power at the wire nuts and the individual blacks at the junction box connection. So, both sides of the connection.

I am NOT getting tone when touching the yellow insulator/protector (12/2) after the connection.

Why I am not getting tone thru the insulator is the question.

 

[Mustang51js]

I like to use fluke meters and never had any false readings. I would guess your meter isn't picking up the new insulation on the wire. You have power so it's def your meter

 

[robertwhite]

. I would guess your meter isn't picking up the new insulation on the wire. You have power so it's def your meter

New insulation?

ALL the wire is identical. Only difference between this particular short run is that it was installed a couple years ago, while the leg from the panel to the junction is new.

 

[landyacht]

Some testers will only read voltage through the insulation on the hot side of the romex, but can't read if you hold it to the neutral side as the ground and neutral copper are enough to shield the signal. This is why proximity testers are generally used as a guide, but never relied on totally

 

[Mustang51js]

I've noticed different rolls of wire are having different insulation on them,guess they are trying new stuff again. One roll was a pain to strip,then some rolls you can almost break the insulation with your hand. But I'm gonna go with it's the testor

 

[pattenp]

I thought I explained it correctly, but maybe not..............

I AM getting tone & power at the end of the run. At all wires, plugs and receptacles.

I AM getting tone & power at the wire nuts and the individual blacks at the junction box connection. So, both sides of the connection.

I am NOT getting tone when touching the yellow insulator/protector (12/2) after the connection.

Why I am not getting tone thru the insulator is the question.

OH.. sorry, I understand now. I have a couple of non contact voltage detectors and one does good sensing the power through the sheathing and the other doesn't. The good one is a $30 Fluke, the other is some off brand $15 tester I go at Home Depot.

 

[robertwhite]

Re: Weird Tester (Ringer) Issue....Little Help, Please

The weird part is that the wire is the same brand and possibly even the same roll.

I have another tester around here somewhere and when I find it, maybe that will tell me more.

I was just concerned that some type of wire fault could cause this issue, but it is definitely getting power to that side of the connection. Guess it is just one of those scratch your head in bewilderment kind of things.

 

[robertwhite]

Found my Greenlee ringer and sure enough, the cheap Lowes ringer was not sensing the current thru the insulation.

Now that I found the Greenlee, I can bring the other POS back.

Thanks for the help guy's.