... 02/12/2020 12:50 PM "To get a more universal 240/120 split phase on each of the phases (3 transformers = 9 … If an alternating current voltmeter, set up correctly, really shows a voltage of only 50 volts between the hot and neutral (or the hot and ground) on a normal 120 volt … When you measure N-G voltage, the measurement yields a simple voltage differential, which a voltage potential on either the neutral conductor or grounding conductor may create. As mentioned, neutral and ground are tied together in your panel. In checking the polarity of my wall receptacles I found one where the ground was 50+ volts above neutral and 60+ volts below hot. The result is that when the house is powered (generator operating in 230 V mode) there is 50 volts between the neutral and earth, and 180 volts between the live and earth. So I replaced it with a new high grade recptacle -- same thing. Most (110 volt) electric lines contain three wires- one “hot” or powered, one neutral and the ground wire. There is no ground wire or metal conduit and therefore no actual grounding. The neutral to ground voltage, on a loaded circuit with a poor neutral connection, would depend the current drawn and the resistance of the load and the poor connection. Voltage should effectively be zero and current as well. Daniel, depending on the circuit wiring and the circuit components, it is common to get a 120 volt reading on a neutral wire that is tested to ground. A voltage between neutral and ground/earth merely indicates that there is a current flowing in one of them, usually the neutral. important point here is that inside the breaker panel, both NEUTRAL and GROUND are connected to the same point. Any ideas of what to look for? Therefore, the possible effects of neutral-to-ground (N-G) voltage are often left up in the air. This is the most important video to understand electrical study. In this case, both sides of the light (hot and neutral) are the same, thus no potential difference (voltage), and the bulb does not light up. Ideally, if one were to measure the voltage between N-G at the service outlet it would also be 0V. Such is the case with a lighting circuit where there are … Thanks, PA - Answered by a verified Electrician. An open neutral would show 120 volts from neutral to ground. Unfortunately, we seldom are privy to such information. I am told by an electrician that the neutral should be 0V (tied to earth) while the manufacturers of the generator unsurprisingly say that 50 volts on the neutral is fine. We recently installed a new generator (Mosa GE6000SX) and during the troubleshooting process for something else, the electrician noticed that when the generator was running but disconnected with no load (just the meter), he observed 40-50 volts between the neutral and the earth (it is a 240 Volt AC single phase generator). We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Traditionally, the hot wire is black and the neutral white. Understanding the Neutral Electrical Wire. Neutral-to-earth voltage (N-E), sometimes called “stray voltage,” is a condition that results when an electrical current flows through a neutral conductor. I read 40 volts to ground on a 120 volt neutral receptacle. In a normal situation with the neutral path intact, you would have 120 volts measured from across the light bulb or the receptacle. The neutral voltage seen from a voltage drop (high resistance or open) is not phantom voltage. But jI don't understand why there is a 50 volt potential sitting on this ground. That gives them the same potential so there should not really be anything there. This means if one were to use a voltmeter a measure the voltage between N-G at the panel, it would read 0 Volts. Checking the polarity of my wall receptacles I found one where the was! 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