Hot/Ground reversed for outlets and ceiling lights not working but only on 2 of 3 floors

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,737
126
all of a sudden, ceiling lights in the front section of my house (built in 1993) stopped working. (basement and 1st floor)

circuit breaker didn't trip.
light bulbs work in another lamp.

took off 1st floor light switch face plate and used a non-contact voltage tester.
There's power going to the black wire.

used an outlet tester (https://images.homedepot-static.com...n/power-gear-voltage-tester-50957-64_1000.jpg).
it said 'Hot/ground Reversed'. :eek: (Red and right yellow indicators lit up)

the funny thing is that the circuit also powers some ceiling lights and receptacles in the 2nd floor.
the 2nd floor ceiling lights work fine and the receptacles tested fine.

google says 'Hot/ground Reversed' sometimes means open neutral.
and most likely, the neutral wire came loose from the receptacle.

I don't see any of loose neutrals in the receptacles (or light switches).
Where else could a loose neutral be?

or what other problem could it be?

thx
 
Last edited:

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,737
126
solved, sorta.

it was getting dark and I didn't want to leave the switches and the receptacle hanging out.
so I screwed them back to their respective boxes.

well, the receptacle now reads fine and the lights work.

I guess the neutral in the back of the receptacle (stab in style instead of hooked around the screw) somehow was no longer pushed in enough to make contact.
and when I screwed the receptacle back to the box, the neutral made contact again.

Now next question:
Why did the lights and receptacles on the same circuit on the 2nd floor work fine?
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
solved, sorta.

it was getting dark and I didn't want to leave the switches and the receptacle hanging out.
so I screwed them back to their respective boxes.

well, the receptacle now reads fine and the lights work.

I guess the neutral in the back of the receptacle (stab in style instead of hooked around the screw) somehow was no longer pushed in enough to make contact.
and when I screwed the receptacle back to the box, the neutral made contact again.

Now next question:
Why did the lights and receptacles on the same circuit on the 2nd floor work fine?
Power is grounded out somewhere on circuit to 2nd floor.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
It's not good. The question is how did it happen? Nailing or screwing in walls, rodents, water damage? It may be a fire hazard.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
So the receptacle has 4 wires going into it or just 2?

A lot of electricians that run circuits like that will cut the line and pig-tail the connections going to the receptacles...so the line voltage will continue through a wire nut to the next device (such as a light switch/circuit) and only 2 wires to the receptacle. This is ideal, but can cause issues if the wires aren't making good contact or the box the contractor installed simply wasn't large enough for all that wire. I typically only use the largest electrical boxes they make (not stocked at Lowes or Home Depot)...our codes division in my city pretty much questions any box that's blue in color.

I use a lot of push-on connectors these days, but I'm still nervous about them pulling loose. I think one is tripping my arc-fault breaker upstairs.
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
21,943
4,819
136
well, the receptacle now reads fine and the lights work.

I guess the neutral in the back of the receptacle (stab in style instead of hooked around the screw) somehow was no longer pushed in enough to make contact.
and when I screwed the receptacle back to the box, the neutral made contact again.

Now next question:
Why did the lights and receptacles on the same circuit on the 2nd floor work fine?

I would guess that the 2nd floor receptacles and lights are on the first part of the circuit. They should work if so. Then the receptacle with the loose neutral and anything down stream will not work.

I would go through and attach all of those wires to the screw in connections as I do not trust those stab in connectors for the same reason you are experiencing. They suck. If your receptacles and switches are as old as you seem to think it wouldn't hurt to replace them all with quality components.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
I would guess that the 2nd floor receptacles and lights are on the first part of the circuit. They should work if so. Then the receptacle with the loose neutral and anything down stream will not work.

I would go through and attach all of those wires to the screw in connections as I do not trust those stab in connectors for the same reason you are experiencing. They suck. If your receptacles and switches are as old as you seem to think it wouldn't hurt to replace them all with quality components.
I've seen some of those connectors work great after 30 years...even on the ones that feel cheap. It just depends on the quality the springs are made of (on those that have them). Since most of the stuff they sell is junk, it's really just hit or miss when it comes to quality unless you specifically pay more to get the better quality switches and receptacles.

In my house, I put commercial light switches and receptacles in...when you flip a switch, it snaps (20amp everywhere)...same for the receptacles...I put mostly 20amp rated plugs in my garage and top quality 15amp ones everywhere else because I wanted the better quality prongs. I can't stand cheap components wearing out....one of my pet peaves when I stay in a hotel and have to deal with plugs not staying in the wall.