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West Jordan, Utah
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[#1] Posted: Feb 01 2010 - 6:12:55 PM |  |  |
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I get voltage drop readings on the suretest over 5% all the time but when I check the volts from the panel and at the outlet I see 120 aprx. should I ignore the voltage drop reading?
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Editor - TIJ
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Kenmore, WA
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Voltage drops reading on the suretest
[#2] Posted: Feb 01 2010 - 6:21:03 PM | | |
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The acceptable range for voltage is 108 to 132 volts. They used to say that a 10% drop was unacceptable. 108 is a 12 volt drop from 120 volts or 10%, no? I guess that's where they came up with the 108 volts.
Anyway, I've mellowed over the years. I think I'd only report it if it was in excess of 10% and reading less than 108 volts. I don't think you're going to see that with new wiring but you might see it with K & T or some of the older post-WWII stuff.
ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!
Mike
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Spring Hill (Nashville area), Tennessee
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Voltage drops reading on the suretest
[#3] Posted: Feb 02 2010 - 06:50:15 AM | | |
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That is one of the problems (not really a problem, but just too much information) with a ShureTest tester. I use to report voltage drops, but I got so tired of electricians saying that they could not really do anyting about it because it was an issue with the utility company. Then everyone would look at me for an answer.
I stopped looking voltage drops many years back.
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Scott Patterson
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Associate Editor - TIJ
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Charlestown, Massachusetts
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Voltage drops reading on the suretest
[#4] Posted: Feb 02 2010 - 07:37:14 AM | | |
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You should do a search of these forums for that info, because it has been discussed at length in the past. Jim Katen had a nice treatise on the subject as I recall.
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Jim
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Louisville, KY
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Voltage drops reading on the suretest
[#5] Posted: Feb 04 2010 - 09:59:48 AM | | |
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I had a bathroom the other day with 12.8vd @20amp. The house had many other eletrical issues as well, no grounds on half of the plugs, doubletaps, ect.... Time to call old Sparky!
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Lafayette, Louisiana
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Voltage drops reading on the suretest
[#8] Posted: Feb 05 2010 - 10:37:02 AM | | |
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Quote: Originally posted by GaretQuote: Originally posted by Ben H
I had a bathroom the other day with 12.8vd @20amp. The house had many other eletrical issues as well, no grounds on half of the plugs, doubletaps, ect.... Time to call old Sparky!
Chances are good that Sparky won't have a clue. The voltage drop provisions are an unenforceable "fine print note" in the NEC. I used to routinely measure voltage drops of 10-20% before my Suretest got stolen. My advice is to throw away your Suretest.
I was referring to the rest of the issue's not the VD. Besides, wouldn't selling it be a better route?
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Philly, PA
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Voltage drops reading on the suretest
[#9] Posted: Feb 05 2010 - 7:22:19 PM | | |
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If you eliminate voltage drop, the suretest is basically giving you the same info as a 10$ 3 lite tester.
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Charlestown, Massachusetts
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Voltage drops reading on the suretest
[#10] Posted: Feb 05 2010 - 7:30:27 PM | | |
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No, that's not so. Suretests just give more information than the average HI -or electrician for that matter- can accurately interpret. They're good, but like a hammerdrill, they're just not great tools for HI's.
Jimmy
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Voltage drops reading on the suretest
[#11] Posted: Feb 07 2010 - 6:29:07 PM | | |
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Do any of you guys check the voltage at the main coming into the panel? that would tell you which side the voltage drop is coming from,or am I thinking like a contractor again? 
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Lafayette, Louisiana
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Chicago, IL
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Voltage drops reading on the suretest
[#13] Posted: Feb 07 2010 - 8:08:10 PM | | |
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This is one of those things that's not enforceable (per Garet's explanation), so is it a defect? Is there anything we can go to that says it's a real problem?
Not really.
I stopped reporting it years ago. Every house has it, at least every house I've looked at.
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Kurt in Chicago
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Kenmore, WA
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Voltage drops reading on the suretest
[#14] Posted: Feb 07 2010 - 9:30:59 PM | | |
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I wouldn't toss the SureTest. It comes in really handy when you have a house with aluminum wiring for pinpointing excessively high voltage drop that can indicate a corroded copper-to-aluminum connection.
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Mike
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Chicago, IL
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Voltage drops reading on the suretest
[#15] Posted: Feb 07 2010 - 9:56:44 PM | | |
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True, but if I find aluminum wiring, I'm already going into danger mode and will be recommending all sorts of things.
I really don't need the Suretest to tell me that. And yes, I do have a carry a Suretest. Use it every day. Just not for determining voltage drop.
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Kurt in Chicago
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Gervais, Oregon
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Voltage drops reading on the suretest
[#16] Posted: Feb 07 2010 - 10:10:38 PM | | |
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Maybe it's just mine, but I don't trust the suretest. It often seems to give me bogus readings.
One of my plans this year is to spend more time looking at a homes electrical system under load with my IR camera. I wonder what correlation exists between what the suretest says vrs infrared?
My guess is the correlation is poor.
Chris, Oregon
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Voltage drops reading on the suretest
