Electrical – measure voltage on a breaker that’s off

electricalwiring

My breaker #1 (115VAC) is connected to my dishwasher. My breaker #2 (115VAC) is connected to my garbage disposal.

Why do I get 38.5VAC on the dishwasher line, even when breaker #1 is off? When breaker #2 (Garbage Disposal) is also off, I get 0 VAC on dishwasher. Why?

Best Answer

Almost certainly an induced voltage. Is this part of a Multi Wire Branch Circuit (MWBC)? If you have black, red & white wires in the cable it's probably a MWBC. Common to have induced voltages in them.