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The original answer given is WRONG:
"It should be closer to 60 V on each. The 120 V is
the potential difference between hot and ground
so that +60 - (-60) = 120."
That answer is not correct. The answerer was confusing 120 volt circuits with the voltages that apply only to normal household "split-about-neutral" 240 volt circuits where it is correct to say that one hot swings from +120 volts to -120 volts whilst the other hot swings from -120 volts to +120 volts, those being the voltages measured between the each of the two hots and the common neutral or ground.
So, where it says:
"It should be closer to 60 V on each."
it should read:
"On a household circuit supplying a nominal 120 volts, the voltage measured to ground should be close to 120 V on the hot and always 0 V (zero volts) on the neutral."
Also, where that answer says:
"The 120 V is the potential difference between hot and ground".
it should read:
"The nominal potential difference between the hot wire and either the neutral wire or the ground wire should be close to 120 V."
Depending on the service standards applying in the area, the actual voltage measured between hot and neutral wires at any instant can vary by up to plus or minus 10% i.e. from a minimum of 108 volts to a maximum of 132 volts.
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 alternating current socket outlet, it is likely there is serious fault which should be investigated.
Either:
- there is too low a service voltage coming into the circuit from the breaker panel.
The householder should ask his local electricity utility company about local service conditions in the area.
If necessary, it may also be wise to call a licensed electrician to check the household electrical system and advise about its condition.
or
- the wires used in the circuit are too thin to carry the total current demanded from that circuit by various plugged-in appliances.
This situation can easily happen if someone carelessly changes the circuit breaker to a higher amperage without also changing the circuit wiring to the correct thicker size and type recommended in the NEC Wiring Tables.
If the wires are too thin and do not correctly match the circuit breaker protecting the circuit, the breaker will not trip to stop a dangerous current overload condition.
If this condition is ignored it can become so dangerous that a house fire will be started.
Such a situation needs to be investigated urgently, and fixed.
In the UK, electric tools and portable lighting at construction sites are sometimes fed from a centre-tapped system with only 55 V between live conductors and the earth. This system is used with 110 V equipment and therefore no neutral conductor is needed. The intention is to reduce the electrocution hazard that may exist when using electrical equipment at a wet or outdoor construction site. An incidental benefit is that the filaments of 110 V incandescent lamps are thicker and therefore mechanically more rugged and shock-resistant than 230 V lamps.
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As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThis problem is usually associated with a loose neutral (the white wire ) in a multi-wire branch circuit. It could be loose on any of the devices on the circuit or at the neutral bar in the breaker panel. Start at the panel at work your way through the outlets involved.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThe only way that I can see this happening is if the receptacles were wires in series. If you have just finished a DIY receptacle addition to the circuit, check to see if the receptacles are wired in parallel. Black to black on one side of the receptacle and white to white on the other side of the receptacle. If you have two separate loads plugged in when you are reading this voltage from the new receptacle, this scenario could happen. To check this problem unplug everything from the circuit. If the voltage disappears on the new receptacle, then that is what has happened and needs to be rectified.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoYou probably have a loose connection in the neutral wire SOMEWHERE in the circuit.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agothe only thing I could think to cause this would be a bad transformer. From hot to ground you should have around 120 volts reguardless the phase.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoThere is a fault in the neutral wire.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Why is it that the outlet shows 209 volts instead of 120 volts?
Because it is a 220 volt outlet instead of a 120 volt outlet. Now, if this is a standard 120 volt outlet that is reading 209 volts then someone has made a mistake in the wiring. You need to call an electrician to straighten this out.
Where is the problem if you have 240V on your 120V outlet and 120V on the neutral?
Someone has wired 240 volts into your 120 volt outlet. If you have 240 volts you need a specially configured outlet so that a standard 120 volt plug cannot be inserted. If you have this situation you would see 120 volts to ground and not neutral. Sometimes if you don't look carefully an outlet will look like the standard 120 volt variety but it isn't. One of the slots is horizontal and not vertical although there may be a small vertical split. 240 volts doesn't just magically appear. What you are describing is on purpose. If it really is 120 volt receptacle you need an electrician to put in the proper receptacle or re-wire the circuit.
Can you plug a 100 volt power tool into a 110 volt outlet?
Never heard of a power tool that runs on 100 volts AC. It would have to be 108 to 120 volts or 220 to 240 volts. It will work on the 120 volt outlet if is it 60 hertz in the U.S. or 50 Hrtz in some other countries. If it is 50 Hrtz then do not use it in the U.S. without a converter.
What if you only get 118 volts on a 120 outlet?
There is no problem with that voltage. As long as the voltage is plus or minus 5% of the nominal voltage of 115 volts it is considered to be in the 120 volt range.
Can i get 220 volt out of 120volt outlet?
No. It would have to be wired for 220 volts and would have to be rated for 220 volts and would have a different configuration so that a typical 120 v plug wouldn't fit the outlet.
Why is it that the outlet shows 209 volts instead of 120 volts?
Because it is a 220 volt outlet instead of a 120 volt outlet. Now, if this is a standard 120 volt outlet that is reading 209 volts then someone has made a mistake in the wiring. You need to call an electrician to straighten this out.
Where is the problem if you have 240V on your 120V outlet and 120V on the neutral?
Someone has wired 240 volts into your 120 volt outlet. If you have 240 volts you need a specially configured outlet so that a standard 120 volt plug cannot be inserted. If you have this situation you would see 120 volts to ground and not neutral. Sometimes if you don't look carefully an outlet will look like the standard 120 volt variety but it isn't. One of the slots is horizontal and not vertical although there may be a small vertical split. 240 volts doesn't just magically appear. What you are describing is on purpose. If it really is 120 volt receptacle you need an electrician to put in the proper receptacle or re-wire the circuit.
Can a 120 hair dryer work with a 110 outlet?
Yes - a hair-dryer rated at 120 volts will work in a 110 volt outlet.
Can a 120 volt appliance run on a 110 volt circuit?
Yes. Circuits in a home are 120 volts but people tend to call them 110 volt circuits. The 120 volts you read on the appliance is the maximum voltage the appliance can handle. The actual voltage you will read at any outlet will range from 110 to 120 volts.
How do you convert 120 volt machine to 110 volt plug?
No conversion needed. These are nominal voltages which range from 110 to 120 volts. It will operate fine on the outlet.
Can you plug a 100 volt power tool into a 110 volt outlet?
Never heard of a power tool that runs on 100 volts AC. It would have to be 108 to 120 volts or 220 to 240 volts. It will work on the 120 volt outlet if is it 60 hertz in the U.S. or 50 Hrtz in some other countries. If it is 50 Hrtz then do not use it in the U.S. without a converter.
What if you only get 118 volts on a 120 outlet?
There is no problem with that voltage. As long as the voltage is plus or minus 5% of the nominal voltage of 115 volts it is considered to be in the 120 volt range.
Can you plug a 120 volt appliance to 110 volt outlet?
Yes, normally, assuming it's 60 cycle (hertz) AC. In the USA, 110 volts as such is no longer used, it's really 120 plus or minus about 5 volts everywhere.
Can i get 220 volt out of 120volt outlet?
No. It would have to be wired for 220 volts and would have to be rated for 220 volts and would have a different configuration so that a typical 120 v plug wouldn't fit the outlet.
What is the cause of 150 volts on a 120 volt?
Usually it is caused by a faulty ground at your main panel.
How much electricity in a standard outlet?
In North America 120 volts, in the UK and Europe 240 volts.
Can you plug a 115 volt 15 amp airconditioning unit to a 100 volt outlet?
I have never seen a 100 Volt rated outlet. Usually outlets would be rated for 110 to 120 volts for residential use, or maybe 150 volts. The rating is separate from what voltage the outlet is providing. If your outlet is supplying 100 volts, as measured by an accurate voltmeter, you have some problem in your wiring or a faulty outlet. If there is only 100 volts at the outlet get an electrician to diagnose the problem if you are not completely familiar with home wiring. In general you should never use an outlet that has a voltage or current rating less that the device will consume.
