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1. 
   Jeff_J._Buck | Jan 18, 2001 12:44am | #1

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   Tonight, I learned something new about receptical testers. The little plug in deals that have the three lights. Two amber, and one red. They tell ya if there's an open ground, or reversed wiring.
   They aren't as sensitive as the test lamps with two leads. And that can be a good thing! I was checking the final hook up of the new outlets I ran off the existing in the bedroom. Just extended the existing circuit. The old wiring is metal shielded bx. Ran all the new with plastic cut in boxes, and used one new metal cut in box to have ground.
   Tested everything with the test lamp, and all was good. Then plugged in the other tester....and only got the center amber light! No good. After thinking the tester may have a burned out light, I confirmed it worked on another receptical, and went to the basement and traced the ciucuit from the box.
   At the first j-box, I popped the cover, and saw the problem. Newer romex(with ground wire) ran from the circuit breaker. Another romex(with ground wire) ran out. And the old BX shielded line ran out....and the box wasn't grounded! So. what ground I was getting up in the bedroom, was from the ground wires just touching inside the j-box. Simply added a ground screw with a lead....and tied it into the ground wires.....and all tests ok.
   Now, just have to add an extension box in the mean time....box is over crowded at this point....and trace the other runs to decide which of those are about to get their very own circuit breaker! I'm surprised they just didn't have three circuits! One for each floor! .....at least there's room in the main panel!
   So, the lesson for today is....the little tester plug in things are less sensitive...and sometimes more accurate! Jeff