Bad electrical grounding?

[AustinJ]

I have been having issues with my computer starting up. I tried diagnostic to find the bad component and my conclusion was the cpu. Here:

 Which shouldn't be bad. I am running on it right now and have been for a few weeks without issue it is just start up that seems to be bad. It lead me to think that it was a grounding issue possibly as I have only had the issue at this apartment. I bought a multi-meter not a super expensive one just one to have around, the fluke 101. So voltage readings off this outlet that I have chosen near my pc:

 

Hot to Neutral: 122v

Hot to Ground: 24v

Neutral to Ground: 10v

 

I am not no electrician but that doesn't seem right to me. Is it worth finding the breaker and look at the outlet? Would this be causing weird issues with my pc?

[Donut417]

1 hour ago, AustinJ said:

I have been having issues with my computer starting up. I tried diagnostic to find the bad component and my conclusion was the cpu. Here:

 Which shouldn't be bad. I am running on it right now and have been for a few weeks without issue it is just start up that seems to be bad. It lead me to think that it was a grounding issue possibly as I have only had the issue at this apartment. I bought a multi-meter not a super expensive one just one to have around, the fluke 101. So voltage readings off this outlet that I have chosen near my pc:

 

Hot to Neutral: 122v

Hot to Ground: 24v

Neutral to Ground: 10v

 

I am not no electrician but that doesn't seem right to me. Is it worth finding the breaker and look at the outlet? Would this be causing weird issues with my pc?

If you think there is a grounding issue, its a fire hazard. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Receptacle-Outlet-Tester-RT110/206517828 this can tell you if the outlet is wired correctly. If its not wired correctly, you live in an apartment, Im pretty sure the person who you pay rent to has to fix it. Dont be touching electrical, especially if you dont know what the hell your doing. 

 

If you choose to fix yourself, make sure you turn it off at the breaker. Dont be digging in the breaker panel, there generally is more than enough electricity there to kill some one in .3 seconds. 

[JokerProduction]

Those numbers don't make much sense and something is going on.

 

You should have 120 between hot and neutral

120 between hot and ground

0 between neutral and ground.

 

I would check a few other receptacles in the house and see if they have the same readings.  It will give you a bit of an idea where you need to look.

 

And kind of a side point and a technicality but that's not actually by definition a neutral conductor but it is very commonly called that.  The only true neutrals in your house would be going to your stove and between your panel and the supply transformer outside.  The proper term is actually identified (grounded) conductor.  The hot is called the ungrounded conductor.

[AustinJ]

10 hours ago, JokerProduction said:

Those numbers don't make much sense and something is going on.

 

You should have 120 between hot and neutral

120 between hot and ground

0 between neutral and ground.

 

I would check a few other receptacles in the house and see if they have the same readings.  It will give you a bit of an idea where you need to look.

 

And kind of a side point and a technicality but that's not actually by definition a neutral conductor but it is very commonly called that.  The only true neutrals in your house would be going to your stove and between your panel and the supply transformer outside.  The proper term is actually identified (grounded) conductor.  The hot is called the ungrounded conductor.

 

Did check most outlets. They all have the same issue with the exception of the outlets in the laundry room that have gfci outlets with the no equipment grounding label. Did some research on the a topic to get a better understanding of how electrical works. Mainly from this reddit comment. And some further looking around at similar issues tend to point toward the connection in the main box between the ground and neutral not be connected or not connected well. I'll likely express some concern the next time the landlord is around to cut grass.

[anothertom]

1 hour ago, AustinJ said:

I'll likely express some concern the next time the landlord is around to cut grass.

This is more serious than a 'mention it in passing' problem. If you're using connections at the completely wrong voltages (which at least two are) then you're risking damage to anything plugged in, as well as anyone who comes into contact with it. I would suggest contacting your landlord ASAP to get this resolved l.

 

Given that you're not confident in your measurements, it's at least worth the cost of calling out someone certified to verify everything is either fine or not fine, both from a safety stand point and for your own peace of mind.

[AresKrieger]

You technically dont need the ground for the computer to function perfectly fine, but if the ground is charged as it appears to be then you may have an issue with the main box as stated above, just have someone look at the electrical box since clearly something is wrong with it, I'm inclined to think the neutral is messing with things; the ground might not be grounded well but that isn't really a major issue  most of the time unless something is dumping charge on it.

[W-L]

3 hours ago, AustinJ said:

Did check most outlets. They all have the same issue with the exception of the outlets in the laundry room that have gfci outlets with the no equipment grounding label. Did some research on the a topic to get a better understanding of how electrical works. Mainly from this reddit comment. And some further looking around at similar issues tend to point toward the connection in the main box between the ground and neutral not be connected or not connected well. I'll likely express some concern the next time the landlord is around to cut grass.

If your hot and neutral are ground are not reading 120V it very much sounds like someone has tapped off of a supply and use the hot and ground instead of hot and neutral wires for your connection. As others have said your going to want to get an electrician in to troubleshoot. 

[Danimacl]

I am an electrician and can confirm seeing hot to ground voltage of 24V is very strange. Have you resolved the issue yet?

[AustinJ]

8 hours ago, Danimacl said:

I am an electrician and can confirm seeing hot to ground voltage of 24V is very strange. Have you resolved the issue yet?

I haven't done anything yet. Not super worried about it as it has been this way for some time.