A Hot Wall

[Peter W. Bennett]

Voltage indicator went off light a Christmas tree.
1870's home suspect knob and tube (none visible) with remodeled bathroom that has wire lath and plaster wall. OUCH

[Mark A. Timpani]

good catch

[Mark Nahrgang]

Peter, 2 questions...

How did you detect the voltage in the wall?

What made you check?

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by mnahrgang

Peter, 2 questions...

How did you detect the voltage in the wall?

What made you check?

And did the GFCI test normal?

[Marc D. Shunk]

This is interesting, but I think there's at least a 50% chance that no problem exists.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Our voltage detectors will go off when you get close to energized NM - that doesn't mean that a defect exists, it just means there are energized components in the area.

If you could get indications from a voltage meter, then I would be concerned.

[Carl Brown]

Hit a wire with a fastener!?

[Peter W. Bennett]

The GFCI protected outlet polarity was acceptable, and tripped off with the internal tester, and my device so it tested normal.
When the device was in the off-open circuit position, I put my voltage indicator in the two prong wall light fixture over the sink. The outlet was still on. As I moved the voltage indictor from the fixture to the GFCI device, accidentally along the wall, I noticed the wall issue.
I then checked other areas ( per the photo )

I did not have anyother equipment with me to check the wall, plus I could not inspect the load center as the screws were rusted. Recommended a licensed electrician evaluate this condition and the entire electrical system and conduct all necessary repairs.

I remember reading a post about a fastener through a wire and how the whole wall was hot, well, I think I finally found one to.

[Jeffrey R. Wicklander]

Never put your trust into a tick tracer... there are many variables that can cause them to give a false reading. Just by moving it across a surface, the vibration can set the thing off. They get old and 'oversensitive'.

[Michael Larson]

The voltage detector I have blinks and alarms if AC it detected.
If it is static or DC the sound will not alert.

Paul Abernathy sold them a while back and with NACHI logos on them.

Here it is sans logo.

No switch to leave on or where out. Best of this type I have ever owned.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Yep....The ones I had were the best. I kept a few for myself.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by pbennett1

The GFCI protected outlet polarity was acceptable, and tripped off with the internal tester, and my device so it tested normal.
When the device was in the off-open circuit position, I put my voltage indicator in the two prong wall light fixture over the sink. The outlet was still on.
They may have fed the properly wired and working GFCI receptacle from this location. There would still be voltage on the wires even though the GFCI had tripped.

As I moved the voltage indictor from the fixture to the GFCI device, accidentally along the wall, I noticed the wall issue.
This would be the still energized wire feeding the GFCI.

I then checked other areas ( per the photo )
The other postive signal could be another wire feeding some other device/circuit or going up to a light from a switch in the room (if one) sharing a common wall or etc, etc, etc.

I did not have anyother equipment with me to check the wall, plus I could not inspect the load center as the screws were rusted. Recommended a licensed electrician evaluate this condition and the entire electrical system and conduct all necessary repairs.

I remember reading a post about a fastener through a wire and how the whole wall was hot, well, I think I finally found one to.

I'm with M. Shunk on this one. There are signs of proper wiring at the GFCI recept......just how far does this extend??

[Peter W. Bennett]

Yes, I know that. I actually place the indictor on the wall, going very slowly.
Thanks,
Peter

[Mark Sylvester]

Peter try moving it slowly on any wall surface you may be a bit surprised. I'm more at a %5 chance of anything being wrong but keep us posted.

[jtedesco1]

Sadly, I am reminded of this accident where the metal studs were energized. Read the story and see the video below:

http://www.nachi.org/forum/f19/person-electrocuted-energized-metal-building-1914/