wiring fault

	wiring fault

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Subject

Author

Date

wiring fault

Bob

07-18-2006

Re: wiring fault

Jim McLaughlin

07-18-2006

Jeff Wisnia

Pete C.

Bud--

Pete C.

CJT

tanithis

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Posted by Bob on July 18, 2006, 11:56 am

I plugged a APC UPS system in to a socket in my house and a red light came
on that is labeled "wiring fault." Does this mean there is no ground or is
it detecting some other problem? Is there a way to trouble shoot and find
what the fault is?

Posted by Jim McLaughlin on July 18, 2006, 12:27 pm

In my experience, the lights on the UPCs are about as useul as the "check
engine" light or "service engine now" light in cars. enough to tell you to
look at it, but not enough to tell ou what is wrong. And no 'codes" to pull
to help diagnosis.

I think there are only two things that can be wrong. First and most
commonis reversed polarity at the socket. Neutral on hot side and hot on
neutral side. Or in simpler terms white wire on dark brass screw, black
wire on bright silver screw. Note that the mix up ca be in a different
outlet box than the one where you are connecting the UPS. It could be
futher up the daisy chain.

The other error that the UPC could be picking up is an open ground.

I'm not going to give instructiomns on line because I don't want any
liability if you do it wrong. If you do already knw your way arund AC
branch circuits, both are easy but sometimes tedious tests with a quality
digital multmeter and a pair of Mark I eyeballs, and are eually easy but
sometimes tedious repairs.

--
Jim McLaughlin

Reply address is deliberately munged.
If you really need to reply directly, try:
jimdotmclaughlinatcomcastdotcom

And you know it is a dotnet not a dotcom
address.

> I plugged a APC UPS system in to a socket in my house and a red light came

> on that is labeled "wiring fault." Does this mean there is no ground or

> it detecting some other problem? Is there a way to trouble shoot and find

> what the fault is?

Posted by Jeff Wisnia on July 18, 2006, 12:44 pm

Jim McLaughlin wrote:

> In my experience, the lights on the UPCs are about as useul as the "check

> engine" light or "service engine now" light in cars. enough to tell you to

> look at it, but not enough to tell ou what is wrong. And no 'codes" to pull

> to help diagnosis.

> I think there are only two things that can be wrong. First and most

> commonis reversed polarity at the socket. Neutral on hot side and hot on

> neutral side. Or in simpler terms white wire on dark brass screw, black

> wire on bright silver screw. Note that the mix up ca be in a different

> outlet box than the one where you are connecting the UPS. It could be

> futher up the daisy chain.

> The other error that the UPC could be picking up is an open ground.

> I'm not going to give instructiomns on line because I don't want any

> liability if you do it wrong. If you do already knw your way arund AC

> branch circuits, both are easy but sometimes tedious tests with a quality

> digital multmeter and a pair of Mark I eyeballs, and are eually easy but

> sometimes tedious repairs.

I agree with everything you say, Jim. Except:

Why advise his using a "digital" multimeter rather than a good old
fashioned analog one?

Haven't we had enough questions here about "phantom" voltage readings
confusing non-technical folks? Those misleading readings occur because
of the extremely high input impedance of digital multimeters responding
to minute AC currents coupled by interwire capacitances. <G>

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength."

Posted by Pete C. on July 18, 2006, 1:42 pm

Bob wrote:

> I plugged a APC UPS system in to a socket in my house and a red light came

> on that is labeled "wiring fault." Does this mean there is no ground or is

> it detecting some other problem? Is there a way to trouble shoot and find

> what the fault is?

One of the $10 ($15 with GFCI tester) little plug in three light testers
you can get most anywhere will identify most common wiring problems just
fine. Once you identify the problem either tackle it referencing a DIY
home wiring book from the library or have an electrician fix it for you
depending on your confidence / skill level.

Pete C.

Posted by Bud-- on July 18, 2006, 5:31 pm

Pete C. wrote:

> Bob wrote:

>>I plugged a APC UPS system in to a socket in my house and a red light came

>>on that is labeled "wiring fault." Does this mean there is no ground or is

>>it detecting some other problem? Is there a way to trouble shoot and find

>>what the fault is?

> One of the $10 ($15 with GFCI tester) little plug in three light testers

> you can get most anywhere will identify most common wiring problems just

> fine. Once you identify the problem either tackle it referencing a DIY

> home wiring book from the library or have an electrician fix it for you

> depending on your confidence / skill level.

> Pete C.

Plug in testers can indicate a bad outlet but won't necessarily indicate
a good outlet. They run on very low current and, in particular, can't
give a reliable test of the ground wire. I would be more extreme than
Jeff and use a lightbulb in a pigtail socket.

bud--

Page 1 of 2 1 2 > last >>

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