T&T: Reversed Polarity Problem

[Peter Bennett]

Friday, April 17, 2009, 7:01:45 AM, Key wrote:

KS> My thanks in advance to any suggestions from the group.  This winter's
KS> projects included some electrical work by my yard.  Specifically they
KS> installed a Guest Galvanic Isolator
KS> 30 Amp Model # 4531001, as well as a GFCI outlet on the first AC circuit.
KS> Now, curiously, three or four of the outlets downstream from the GFCI show
KS> reverse polarity.  And, 3 or 4 of the rest show normal polarity.  The
KS> electrician has been trying to figure this out, and seems a bit perplexed, so
KS> progress has been slow since he has moved on to another boat for the time
KS> being.  How may I figure out the reverse polarity problem triggering the GFCI
KS> so as to help expedite resolution of this?  I seemingly had no AC circuit
KS> issues prior to the galvanic isolator and GFCI, but then again I never did
KS> check each individual outlet box...only the master AC panel light which never
KS> indicated reverse polarity on shorepower.

KS> Key
KS> M/V TITAN, Rockland, Maine

Installing a Galvanic Isolator and GFCI should not (even could not)
cause individual outlets to be reverse polarity.

If, as you said, you didn't check each outlet previously, I'd suspect
that some outlets have always been wired incorrectly.  You should open
each outlet and determine which wires are on which terminals of the
outlet.  Standard North American wiring uses a white wire for neutral,
which should go to the silver terminal on the outlet.  The hot wire
should be black (or possibly red) and will go to the brass screw.


-- 
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI    Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Ennos 31 "Honeycomb"
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter 
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca