GaryS
Member
There are a number of things to look at
when you measure the voltage always measure Hot to Hot, Each Hot to Nut, each Hot to Ground and Nut to ground this will give a clear picture of the voltages
It is possible one leg of the breaker is open and with the load connected both legs will be powered from the same hot leg.
You could have an open Natural so shorting any hot to nut will not trip the breaker.
All Neutrals are required to bonded to the ground at the main panel if the branch is feed from a sub panel the neutral and ground in the subpanel are isolated in the subpanel
As stated before it is never a good idea to short wires to find the breaker I have seen many breakers where the contacts welded together from a short and they will never open.
when you measure the voltage always measure Hot to Hot, Each Hot to Nut, each Hot to Ground and Nut to ground this will give a clear picture of the voltages
It is possible one leg of the breaker is open and with the load connected both legs will be powered from the same hot leg.
You could have an open Natural so shorting any hot to nut will not trip the breaker.
All Neutrals are required to bonded to the ground at the main panel if the branch is feed from a sub panel the neutral and ground in the subpanel are isolated in the subpanel
As stated before it is never a good idea to short wires to find the breaker I have seen many breakers where the contacts welded together from a short and they will never open.