Could Hot Aluminum Fascia Run Power Bill Up?

willworkforbeer

No, neutral was hot, receptacle ground was hooked to neutral (no I didnt do it and thats not the problem anyway though it shouldnt be done that way I know), receptacle screwed to fascia. Neutral should not be hot. Apparently neutral was getting power from same side of panel otherwise I'd had 220.

Customer was not interested in having the light fixed, so I did not run a new circuit.

willworkforbeer

Back when I was a jobsite superintendent I gave the electricians the shovel.

Tinstaafl

Yes, but was it a "hard" hot? IOW, if you hooked it to a good ground, would it have popped a breaker?

If hot is being applied to one side of a load and the neutral side of that load is hanging in mid-air (or tied to fascia), it will appear to be hot--both to your body and to a meter.

willworkforbeer

Yes nothing hooked to it just hot wire and neutral, hot wire switched on and off with lightswitch, neutral stayed hot, no current pass between them switch on or off.

Magnettica

You were a jobsite superintendent?

You'll have to excuse me, I didn't know who I was messing with.

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willworkforbeer

Yes I was, over 150 unruly brats, clawed my way up the hard way.

Magnettica

And yet you're still walking the aisles at Home Depot.

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willworkforbeer

I hate structure and I hate new construction, I just got sick of it. Money is nice but it aint everything. Never sell my soul for it again.

Magnettica

Roger, Roger.

What's your Vector, Victor?

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Magnettica

Before this gets real ugly, and I know better because I've posted here for a few years, do you now understand the condition you found at the fascia and why you got shocked?

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willworkforbeer

Nobody wants to or doesnt know the answer to my question fine, I gotta go get some beer.

Tinstaafl

Well, that could still be leakage through a different load somewhere else on the circuit. But if you found receptacles wired backward too, it's anybody's guess.

I'd vote with 220. The current leakage, if any was probably on the order of microamps or at best milliamps. Whatever the resistance from fascia to ground would allow. I'd really doubt it had much effect on the electric bill. Except maybe during rainstorms.

strathd

I will agree to that ! Putting out fires every day when I'm a GC. Getting beat down by GC's when I'm framing. F it. Even when and if things get better I'm done with new const. 29 years I have had enough. I'll live longer doing remods.

willworkforbeer

Thats why I checked all the outlets also, an old real stone house with aluminum fascia trim touching stone so house is somewhat of a ground right? We'll see in a couple power bills. Thought maybe by chance someone else had some sort of similar experience. Should know better then to ask a legit question on this site.

willworkforbeer

Yes, and the reason I got shocked by fascia was that I had one hand on aluminum ladder (sunk in ground) and my back bumped the non-painted corner (cut edge). Working on detached garage built close to house.

willworkforbeer

If I can make 1-2k a week and hit a lick once in a while I'm good now. Not going to let stuff own me. At least with HO's I get a little happiness, mostly . No more jobsites for me unless it comes on my terms.

Magnettica

Oh, is that why?

Gee, is that normal that current flows on aluminum fascia's or is that objectionable?

Btw, only a complete fool would work on electrical circuits using an aluminum ladder.

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willworkforbeer

You sir are a complete idiot, I was working on the garage putting tin on it. Nothing to do with electrical. Do I need to write a small word only essay for you to understand? You remind me of all the "electricians" I know. I got a liscense, whoo, hoo. Electricians like you are pea brained idiots, usually whimpy too.

I'm 45 and have a 145 IQ bitch, what you got? You have nothing except a big stupid mouth.

Magnettica

I've got an IQ of 146!!! Now what are you gonna do about that?!!

I've had run-in's with dumb handymen like you for seemingly all my life. It's people like you who make problems like the one you learned about the hard way and had to come here searching for answers on how to fix it to probably make a quick buck. But you are no electrician. Electrical licenses are not given away without years of practical experience, schooling, and continued education, something you obviously lack, (at least as a wannabe electrician).

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Tinstaafl

Asked in the right way (which basically you did), a legit question stands a very good chance of getting legit answers here.

But followed up with less than exemplary interrelationship techniques, including denigration of the skills and knowledge of community members with accepted experience and credentials, makes that a tad less likely.

Testing such a circuit for current leakage to ground is a very elementary procedure that any 16 year old electricity/electronics student could do with ease. Apparently you didn't do that; probably I wouldn't have either unless specifically asked by the HO to troubleshoot high-usage problems.

Again, the answer is: Not likely, but possible.

Good luck with it.