If you got 120 volts of current on each leg of a 50amp breaker but only 25v on each wire going into the oven outlet what could be the problem?
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Are these measurements made with a load applied, or with no load on the circuit?– ThreePhaseEelCommented Dec 13, 2018 at 1:14
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Current refers to flow, which implies a load is drawing some current. Voltage can be measured even when there is no current flowing. Only a tiny amount of current flows through the voltmeter. Take voltage readings at the breaker and at the stove, both with the stove on and off (load and no-load.) The voltmeter common should be on the neutral wire in each case.– John CanonCommented Dec 13, 2018 at 2:07
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The problem is that you aren't using a Wiggy; it's more likely the stove itself.– MazuraCommented Dec 13, 2018 at 2:21
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2 Answers
You do not note where in the world you are, so this is tricky to answer well. In the US each screw terminal on the 50amp two pole 240V breaker should measure 120V to ground or neutral, and 240V terminal to terminal. At the range itself there should be an outlet with four openings. The two small rectangular pins opposite each other should be about 240V as the meter is showing in the below image, and the rest of the pins should be about 120V relative to each other. If the voltage is off by more than a few percent on any of the measurements, there is probably a break in the wire of one or more pins. With a voltmeter it is possible to read voltage that has leaked from other sources, so low numbers should generally consider to be open circuits.
You may have to trace the wire through the house and figure out what has been done. Often you'll find that some previous owner rerouted it for a new electric dryer or hot tub (if there was a gas stove there and the range plug was unneeded at the time). For your own safety I recommend contacting with a locally licensed electrician for repairs.
What is the voltage at the breaker leg to leg it should be 240v having an open leg there can be enough leakage to show 120 on each side to ground but then there won't be 240 a across L1 & L2.
