HOT WHITE & HOT BLACK - HELP

[JK]

A pig tail tester shows that I have two hot wires in each of the outlets in one room. House new 23 years ago and no problems until the other day. A few days ago plugging iron into outlet cause all on circuit to loose power. Breaker didn't flip. I replaced breaker and outlet. Iron works fine in other outlet on other circuit. Twelve hours or so after loosing power, with breaker on lights returned. Plugged iron in and lost power again without breaker flipping to off.

2nd test of outlet with pig tail tester again showed two hot wires. Iron works fine elsewhere. Any thoughts appreciated. Room has outlets, ceiling fan, and a switch to one of the plugs. I didn't test the switch. Thanks again.

[RBM]

You have an open neutral, the white wire. It has most likely come loose in a back stabbed outlet in that room or an adjacent room. Plug in a lamp with the switch "on" and tap on all the dead outlets and any live outlets in the vicinity. If you tap on one and the light flickers or comes on, look in that outlet for loose connections

[JK]

[Mark Lloyd]

Intermittent loose neutral?

[RBM]

Yes, it would appear as a hot on both wires, but it is actually a backfed hot wire from something else on the circuit. If you momentarily bridged a wire from the white wire to the ground, you would see the lights come back on. Only do this as a test

[buffalobill]

if it is an outlet, you can replace all five outlets for $5. or you can find out if one is bad with a meter by disconnecting each outlet. you must unplug all devices from the troublesome circuit and each outlet with a MULTIMETER for more complete readings leading to better answers. the neon tester bulb has helped identify a danger in your home.

orig> A pig tail tester shows that I have two hot wires in each of the