Figure 5-10. - First step in testing an outlet with a neon tester.

identifying each pair of wires. The pair that is hot will cause the neon tester to glow.

The grounded system is easiest to check because only the potential hot wires need to be disconnected, separated, and tested. Figure 5-14 shows how the wires are separated and tested. The wire that causes the neon tester to respond is the hot lead.

An ungrounded system can be checked just like a grounded system? except the solderless connector must be removed from the neutral wire and the neutral wire must be used as a reference, as shown in figure 5-15. Figure 5-16 shows how to determine if voltage is reaching a light fixture. With the switch in the ON position, the neon tester should light.

TESTING THE GROUND TERMINAL

A simple test procedure, as shown in figure 5-17, may be used to check each receptacle for ground.

Figure 5-11. - Using the neon tester to check for a defective receptacle.

One lead of the neon tester should be held stationary on the ground terminal while the opposite lead is repositioned on each plug slot. If the receptacle is properly grounded, the neon light will light when placed in only one of the slots. If the light does not glow in either slot, the receptacle is not grounded.

TESTING CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND FUSES IN CIRCUITS

When you are troubleshooting large electrical systems, it is important to follow the systematic approach: localize, isolate, and locate. It is never a good procedure to make haphazard measurements in a system hoping that luck will lead to the problem. Testing circuit breakers and fuses in the circuit first may eliminate unnecessary troubleshooting. Practice