Another post-lightning strike problem: we have a run of outlets that no longer make a connection when you touch black & white wires, yet get a connection when touching black to the ground wire with a multimeter. A circuit tester reads "Hot/Ground Reversed." The outlet at the end of the run is totally dead. PLUS, we just upgraded the service TODAY and we are still having the problem, so it's not at the breaker. This was not an issue before the lightning strike. Ever heard of such a thing?
The wire coming out of the panel is a 3-wire bx. The circuit that the black wire feeds is just fine, yet the circuit the red wire feeds gives us the reverse/ground reading. I know that can be an open neutral, but if both hot wires are coming from the same cable, shouldn't both show the open problem? Any idea what could be going on? We get the bad reading at the first junction box after the panel, on the red wire coming from the panel.
Best Answer
Somewhere in your house wiring a neutral line is disconnected / broken / melted. You will need to open every electrical box and check the connections and splices. If you don't find anything there, do continuity tests between junction boxes. If the fault is between boxes you may need to open the walls up.
Your GFCI outlets are almost certainly dead. Any overcurrent big enough to sever a wire will fry a GFCI. Just replace the lot.
"Hot/Ground Reversed" isn't testable without a third connection. There should be full voltage between hot and ground - if not then you have an open ground. If you put a meter between ground and a known-good ground (like a metal water pipe) and see full voltage then you really do have hot and ground reversed (and a major problem - call an electrician).