Testing for same leg:
"" Say you have two lines running to the stereo equipment area.
Say line A and line B
Line A duplex The hot is the narrow slot (if the ground is on the bottom, the right slot)
Within a single duplex:
The neutral is the wide. or left slot
AC voltmeter prongs in narrow and wide reads around* 120V
AC voltmeter prongs in narrow and ground will also read 120V
AC voltmeter prongs in wide and ground will read 0V
(if you readings within a single duplex are different, the duplex is wired WRONG.)
Same if you go to just line B duplex. same results within line B duplex
However to test if line A and line B are on same or different legs.
AC voltmeter prongs in narrow slot of line A (Hot)
AC voltmeter other prong in narrow slot of line B (Hot)
If this reading is 240 volts, you are using both legs.
If it is zero 0V then you are using the SAME leg and are safe.
To just mention (but these do not matter to the test) other connections.
If you connect the AC voltmeter from line A wide slot to line B wide slot the reading will also be 0V no matter if one leg or both legs.
If you connect line A wide slot to line B narrow slot 120V no matter if one leg or both legs. Line A ground to line B narrow will be 120V
Same thing line B wide slot to line A narrow slot 120V no matter if both legs or one leg. Line B narrow slot to line A ground will be 120V
* the voltage may be near 120V it may be 115V or may be 125V, but it will be close.
Same thing wit the 240V reading, it may be somewhat off, but still near 240, 230 243 etc.
"" Say you have two lines running to the stereo equipment area.
Say line A and line B
Line A duplex The hot is the narrow slot (if the ground is on the bottom, the right slot)
Within a single duplex:
The neutral is the wide. or left slot
AC voltmeter prongs in narrow and wide reads around* 120V
AC voltmeter prongs in narrow and ground will also read 120V
AC voltmeter prongs in wide and ground will read 0V
(if you readings within a single duplex are different, the duplex is wired WRONG.)
Same if you go to just line B duplex. same results within line B duplex
However to test if line A and line B are on same or different legs.
AC voltmeter prongs in narrow slot of line A (Hot)
AC voltmeter other prong in narrow slot of line B (Hot)
If this reading is 240 volts, you are using both legs.
If it is zero 0V then you are using the SAME leg and are safe.
To just mention (but these do not matter to the test) other connections.
If you connect the AC voltmeter from line A wide slot to line B wide slot the reading will also be 0V no matter if one leg or both legs.
If you connect line A wide slot to line B narrow slot 120V no matter if one leg or both legs. Line A ground to line B narrow will be 120V
Same thing line B wide slot to line A narrow slot 120V no matter if both legs or one leg. Line B narrow slot to line A ground will be 120V
* the voltage may be near 120V it may be 115V or may be 125V, but it will be close.
Same thing wit the 240V reading, it may be somewhat off, but still near 240, 230 243 etc.

