| Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff |
| I cant figure out why I am getting 70VAC instead of 120VAC |
| (1/2) > >> |
| Hextejas:
from this wall switch. I wired it exactly the same was as shown on the one attachment, yet when I read the VAC across the 2 bare wires, I get about 70VAC. I made sure that I was getting 120VAC coming in, and the light in the switch comes on. It has a fuse of about 315ma. Is the fuse stealing some of my volts ? >:( It must be something simple. |
| IanB:
--- Quote from: Hextejas on December 09, 2018, 11:41:32 pm ---I wired it exactly the same was as shown on the one attachment, yet when I read the VAC across the 2 bare wires, I get about 70VAC. I made sure that I was getting 120VAC coming in, and the light in the switch comes on. --- End quote --- The switch has an internal light? A neon lamp? Are you sure you haven't wired the lamp in series with the load? That could explain your strange voltage measurement. |
| Hextejas:
Ian, I dont know how to check if the lamp is in series with the load. I will need to look around and see what I can find. I wired it exactly as shown in the one picture. I found this additional info. |
| Gregg:
Hextejas, IanB is correct, 70 volts is about right for a neon lamp. Probably one of the two contacts in the switch is not making proper contact which will in effect put the lamp in series with the load. Take off the switch wiring connectors and check with an ohm meter to ensure both switch contacts work as pictured in the schematic. |
| IanB:
--- Quote from: Hextejas on December 10, 2018, 12:27:09 am ---Ian, I dont know how to check if the lamp is in series with the load. I will need to look around and see what I can find. I wired it exactly as shown in the one picture. I found this additional info. --- End quote --- According to the schematic: if you connect mains neutral to the N/L2 terminal and connect mains live/hot to the L/L1 terminal at the top of the diagram, then when the switch is closed 120 V will appear between the device L/L1 and device L2 terminals at the bottom of the picture. If you are unsure of which terminals are which (or to check for faults), you could detach the switch from the mains and test it with a continuity tester. |
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