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Electrical Inspections Contains discussions about electrical systems. This includes receptacles, panels, wiring, etc.

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  #1  
Old 6/13/09, 12:36 PM
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Michael Larson Michael Larson is offline
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Default What would you do?

From yesterday's inspection. AC voltage on the refrigerator.

I'll be out till later today and have more pics and a story to post.

What would you do? ( I was alone at the inspection )

Why is this happening?

Sorry guys. I must have forgot to hit upload
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He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors - Thomas Jefferson - Founding Father

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

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Last edited by mlarson; 6/13/09 at 4:14 PM..
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  #2  
Old 6/13/09, 1:38 PM
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Doug Edwards, CMI Doug Edwards,  CMI is offline
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Default Re: What would you do?

I don't know!



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  #3  
Old 6/13/09, 1:49 PM
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Default Re: What would you do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mlarson View Post
From yesterday's inspection. AC voltage on the refrigerator.

I'll be out till later today and have more pics and a story to post.

What would you do? ( I was alone at the inspection )
Don't know, need more info. Most likely I'd turn off power to the circuit.
How did you discover this?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mlarson View Post
Why is this happening?
Reversed polarity of receptacle?

Last edited by rmaday; 6/13/09 at 1:57 PM..
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  #4  
Old 6/13/09, 1:52 PM
Doug Edwards,  CMI's Avatar
Doug Edwards, CMI Doug Edwards,  CMI is offline
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Default Re: What would you do?

Where is this photo?

I see nothing.....Sgt Schultz



"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing is worth a war, is worse. A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

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  #5  
Old 6/13/09, 2:02 PM
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Paul W. Abernathy Paul W. Abernathy is offline
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Default Re: What would you do?

If you are talking about the frame of the fridge being energized, I would look at the compressor on the fridge. It may have a wire that has gone bad due to compresor vibration maybe and is touching the frame of the fridge.

Unplug the fridge and with a cont. tester check between the case of the fridge and the grounded conductor and do the same with the ungrouded conductor and see what you get on the cont. tester......



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  #6  
Old 6/13/09, 4:15 PM
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Michael Larson Michael Larson is offline
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Default Re: What would you do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by dedwards View Post
Where is this photo?

I see nothing.....Sgt Schultz
Pic didn't post the first. Go back to post #1.

It's there now.

Another clue but far from the whole story.
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He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors - Thomas Jefferson - Founding Father

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

Never underestimate the difficulty of changing false beliefs by facts.
- Henry Rosovsky-Harvard

Michael Larson
Hudson, WI

Services provided in East MN and West WI
InspectraPro
and
Minnesota Home Inspector


Last edited by mlarson; 6/13/09 at 4:38 PM..
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  #7  
Old 6/13/09, 5:20 PM
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Default Re: What would you do?

Whatever possessed you to try your ticker on the refrigerator?



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  #8  
Old 6/13/09, 5:27 PM
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Default Re: What would you do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mnahrgang View Post
Whatever possessed you to try your ticker on the refrigerator?
What he said
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  #9  
Old 6/13/09, 5:30 PM
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Default Re: What would you do?

Looks like a mini fridge. Bet Mike bumped into it, muttered some explitives and pulled out his voltage tester.
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  #10  
Old 6/13/09, 5:32 PM
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Michael Larson Michael Larson is offline
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Default Re: What would you do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mnahrgang View Post
Whatever possessed you to try your ticker on the refrigerator?
I found the reverse polarity outlet first and my Spidey sense kicked in.

I was surprised to say the least but it gets better.

This is a two fault situation that created this hazard but you have to think about what is going on.

BTW-That particular non contact voltage tester will glow on voltage but when its AC it also beeps and it was singing away. beep beep beep



He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors - Thomas Jefferson - Founding Father

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

Never underestimate the difficulty of changing false beliefs by facts.
- Henry Rosovsky-Harvard

Michael Larson
Hudson, WI

Services provided in East MN and West WI
InspectraPro
and
Minnesota Home Inspector

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  #11  
Old 6/13/09, 5:34 PM
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Michael Larson Michael Larson is offline
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Default Re: What would you do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by rmaday View Post
Looks like a mini fridge. Bet Mike bumped into it, muttered some explitives and pulled out his voltage tester.
It's full size near a family room bar area.

There might have been an expletive but I don't recall.



He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors - Thomas Jefferson - Founding Father

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

Never underestimate the difficulty of changing false beliefs by facts.
- Henry Rosovsky-Harvard

Michael Larson
Hudson, WI

Services provided in East MN and West WI
InspectraPro
and
Minnesota Home Inspector

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  #12  
Old 6/13/09, 5:52 PM
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Default Re: What would you do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mlarson View Post

What would you do? ( I was alone at the inspection )
Clean my fingernails, really thats gross

Gerry



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  #13  
Old 6/13/09, 5:54 PM
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Michael Larson Michael Larson is offline
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Default Re: What would you do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by gbeaumont View Post
Clean my fingernails, really thats gross

Gerry
Sorry Gerry.

It is gross.

I moved some sod before I went on the inspection.

I'm always cleaning my nails.



He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors - Thomas Jefferson - Founding Father

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

Never underestimate the difficulty of changing false beliefs by facts.
- Henry Rosovsky-Harvard

Michael Larson
Hudson, WI

Services provided in East MN and West WI
InspectraPro
and
Minnesota Home Inspector

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Find an InterNACHI certified New Jersey Home Inspector (and anywhere else in North America)
  #14  
Old 6/13/09, 6:16 PM
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Default Re: What would you do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mlarson View Post
Sorry Gerry.

It is gross.

I moved some sod before I went on the inspection.

I'm always cleaning my nails.
LOL, sorry Mike, just couldn't resist

BTW there is obviously a problem eilther with the way the outlet is wired or a grounding problem in the appliance.

Regards

Gerry



"To realize our true destiny, we must be guided not by a myth from our past, but by a vision of our future."
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  #15  
Old 6/13/09, 6:20 PM
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Default Re: What would you do?

This is an easy fix, hard wire the fridge backwards, and Viola!
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