Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - What does a lit wire tester mean?

Hey Gang: Trying to remove my dishwasher and install the next. When I use the wire testers against the Black and White wires, it lights up but I'm sure I did shut the circuit. :confused: Does the light mean the wires are still live/hot or just the opposite? I know - seems like a stupid question, but help is needed! Thanks!!

What does the tester do when you test from black (hot) to ground?

What does the tester do when you test from black (hot) to ground?
When I touch the black wire to the ground (not using the red tester at all) no light comes on the tester, however, when I touch the red tester to the white wire and the black tester to the ground (or any metal on the junction box of the dishwasher) it does light up. Would this indicate the wires are still live??

Just a jump in while Mark eats lunch. If this is a neon tester and you are touching the white wire with one of the leads and the body of the dishwasher or junction box with the other and it lights up, you have an energized junction box, and the circuit is not off. You should not have any measurable current in the white wire at all. What happens when you touch the black wire with one lead and the bare wire or white wire with the other lead?

Hey Chandler,
Thanks for your reply and info. The short story is that I realized I tried all but one breaker and, of course, it was the one the supply to the dishwasher! In response to your question, I continued to get the light on the wire tester (not a neon tester) when I touched the leads in the manner you mentioned.

So, I'm good for now, as I was able to disconnect the dishwasher SAFELY- LOL and will take a break and try to install the new one tomorrow. The water supply line to the DW is not cooperating much now. It's a compression fitting copper tubing from the hot water line, but I can't get the water to stop coming out of the tubing unless I shut the hot water off completely. I think I now need a new shut-off valve to the DW water supply. I brother - what have I started?????????? LOL

Thank you again.
Lisa


Just a jump in while Mark eats lunch. If this is a neon tester and you are touching the white wire with one of the leads and the body of the dishwasher or junction box with the other and it lights up, you have an energized junction box, and the circuit is not off. You should not have any measurable current in the white wire at all. What happens when you touch the black wire with one lead and the bare wire or white wire with the other lead?

Glad you were actually checking for voltage! A lot of people find out the hard way that the power was actually shut off.

I'll close this thread since you posted in the other forum.


http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=345750