Electrical Voltage 5.5 Readings on a Circuit

';	How to Identify and Repair a Voltage Feedback © By: Dave Rongey

Understanding 5.5 Volt Electrical Readings
[ad#block]Electrical Voltage: Where is 5 volts coming from?

I am changing receptacles on appliance circuit.
I turned off all the circuit breakers for the kitchen area, 2 appliance circuits, 1 disposal +range hood circuit.
I still show 5.5 volts at the #1 appliance hot line to the circuit breaker.
Where is that voltage coming from?

This electrical question came from: Bruce, from Phoenix, Arizona.

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Bruce

How to Identify and Repair a Voltage Feedback

Residual Electrical Voltage Readings

Bruce, the 5.5 volt reading that you are seeing is most likely residual voltage that is being fed back through the neutral wire through inductive type devices that are connected to the electrical system which is then showing up on the line at the circuit breaker that you are testing.
One way to prove this would be to unplug or disconnect any inductive type loads and the 5.5 volt reading should disappear. Inductive loads would include motors, transformers, even incandescent light bulbs, basically anything that would have a circuit path within the internal components of the device which could induce the current or permit a current path to flow between the hot and the neutral conductors of the circuit.

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Please Note:
Unless otherwise posted, please refer to the following Guidelines when working on Electrical Projects:

Skill Level:
Intermediate to Advanced - Electrical Repairs and Circuit Wiring is Best Performed by a Certified Electrician or Licensed Electrical Contractor.

Electrical Tools Required:
Basic Electricians Pouch of Hand Tools, a Voltage Tester and a Multi Meter.

Estimated Time:
Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with tools, work with electrical wiring, and the available access to the project area.

Precaution:
Identify the project circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring.

Important:
Modifying existing electrical circuits or installing additional electrical wiring should be done according to local and National Electrical Codes, with a permit and be inspected.