[AMPS] ground loop?

[2]

>
>This is a puzzling situation here in the shack.  I have a 117 volt
>receptacle that shows a voltage reading of 117 when I measure between
>the ground hole and hot water register in the room.  Obviously, this is
>a dangerous situation.
>When I checked out the receptacle, I found that there wasn't any ground
>wire connected to the box(old wiring, new  3 prong receptacle added by
>previous owner).  I ran a ground to a cold water pipe nearby and voltage
>between ground and radiator disappeared.  I was happy with my success
>until I turned out a lamp that was on in the shack and the breaker
>popped.  I removed the new ground wire and reset the breaker and now
>we're back to where we started.  Any suggestions?
>
//  The white wire is usually the neutral.  All of the neutral wires 
connect back to the ground of the breaker box.  You can confirm this by 
measuring the potential to a ground.  Although it's not according to 
code, when no ground wire is available, connecting the outlet's ground 
terminal to the neutral terminal holds the ground to no more than a few 
volts max.  above gnd.  

cheers

-  R. L. Measures, 805.386.3734,AG6K, www.vcnet.com/measures.  
end


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