GFI problem

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organic_riley

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I have a gfi at the panel serving a whirpool bath. I just changed tubs and have a problem. At the panel across the black and white leads of the gfi I have 120 volts. At the whirpool I have as follows --black and white 78 volts =or - , black and ground 120 volts, white to ground almost nothing. What gives any ideas. or
 

Jetlag

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not 78 volt

I have a gfi at the panel serving a whirpool bath. I just changed tubs and have a problem. At the panel across the black and white leads of the gfi I have 120 volts. At the whirpool I have as follows --black and white 78 volts =or - , black and ground 120 volts, white to ground almost nothing. What gives any ideas. or

You have lost your neutral connection some where , the 78 volt is not real it is volt meter error that occurs when you try to measure with broken ground. Thats why I use 120 v bulb tester.. To confirm run an extension cord out to tub from a good outlet. check from neutral on cord to hot on tub you should have 120 v. that confirms neutral is out on tub.
 

hj

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voltage

White to ground should be nothing, not "next to nothing" if your meter is correct. depending on where you lost your neutral, and I suspect it is near the GFCI, the 78 volts could be feed through from the circuitry in the GFCI, in which case the neutral WIRE is intact from the GFCI to your tub. I have had it happen several times.
 

Frenchie

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White to ground should be nothing, not "next to nothing" if your meter is correct.

Google "induced voltage" aka "phantom voltage".

It's not meter error in the sense that the meter's faulty. There really is 78v there. Only it's at zero or near-zero amps - so a bulb tester will show zilch.

The hot wire creates a magnetic field, which sets up a (weak) voltage in the dead wire. He could disconnect both ends of the dead wire from anything, the tester would still show the 78v. But connect a load to it - like a lightbulb, or a bulb tester - it disappears & your meter will show zero volts.
 
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