How To Fix A Live Neutral

[Bachian]

I got a new guitar, plugged it in and got quite a buzz, from both the amp and guitar. Tested the guitar ground and all was good. I tested the AC outlet with a multimeter and got 54 volts from the neutral. Same reading on every outlet in the house. Can anyone explain how to fix this problem?

 

[Andy™]

if you really are in USA, then your better looking at a USA based forum. our wiring is different from yours

but your problem is most likely a dodgy connection somewhere

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

54 v on the neutral....????

what sort of meter are you using?

and

where was you other meter lead?   on the earth / ground?

and

what voltage are you getting between live and neutral?

Could this not be an apparent voltage on the earth rather then the neutral?

i.e.

Earth/Ground open circuit somwhere..

apparent 50+v induced onto the earth...

If all your neutrals were at 50+ volts ..

most of you appliances would not be working as the live - neutral voltage would be effectively 54 volts less than what it should be.

Lose / bad earth could also give you buzzes and noises through your amplifier.

welcome..

Guinness

 

[ProDave]

54 V on the neutral.

110V supply. Centre tapped earth?

 

[Evans Electric]

I was going to say that !!!

As Andy says , your system is different to the UK  .   You should have  110v  between the main poles  and if theres an earth (ground)  they would be , as PD says , 54v from each pole to ground . 

Is it a 3 pin socket. ? 

 

[Andy™]

I was going to say that !!!

As Andy says , your system is different to the UK  .   You should have  110v  between the main poles  and if theres an earth (ground)  they would be , as PD says , 54v from each pole to ground . 

Is it a 3 pin socket. ? 

iirc america uses 110-0-110 split phase, so there shouldnt be 55v to anything

 

[Evans Electric]

Ah .   Is it 2 pin sockets then ?

 

[Doc Hudson]

Wikipedia suggests it is 120v 60Hz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity_by_country

Doc H.

 

[Bachian]

It's 3 prong outlets. Middle screw to ground reads .001. Middle screw and ground to neutral reads 54. All readings to hot read 110.

I'm using the:

~

v

on the multi-meter.

 

[NozSpark]

If you have

54V ground -neutral

110V ground - hot

110V neutral - hot

Then this sounds like you have a bad ground connection somewhere

 

[Bachian]

I get this bad reading on all outlets. How can I trace down the bad ground?

 

[NozSpark]

Sounds like you need an electrician TBH

 

[Bachian]

It would be awhile before I could afford that... Is it unsafe to play a guitar on those readings?

 

[NozSpark]

Put it this way,,,, your ground connection/wires are the most important parts of your electrical installation.... You need local advice ASAP

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Please ask on a US forum asap

 

[Apache]

It would be awhile before I could afford that... Is it unsafe to play a guitar on those readings?

The guitar would be low down on my list of concerns at this time.......

 

[Andy™]

It would be awhile before I could afford that... Is it unsafe to play a guitar on those readings?

well if you want to ignore the problem, then continue as normal. just make sure you have good life insurance for when the fault it kills you

 

[Evans Electric]

You need a US electrician  to be honest , we are not familiar with your system  although it may be that your N is no longer earthed  (grounded) . 

Amps can be a nightmare if they are not grounded and at UK voltages can be lethal if the guitarist touches earth . Be careful  or go back to accoustic .

We would like to know what the problem was when you sort it .

 

[ayjay]

get an acoustic geetar instead?

 

[Doc Hudson]

get an acoustic geetar instead?

Now there is some thinking outside the box, which is cheaper an acoustic guitar or an electricians repair bill?

Doc H.