Electrical conundrum quiz

[Bobbo]

I have solved this problem, but thought the electrical experts might try their hand at diagnosing this problem.

My father in law made a homemade extension cord. He took a 12/2 wG cable and put a plug on one end. He wired a box with a SPST ON/OFF switch to the hot wire. He then wired the other end with a duplex 15 amp outlet.

When he plugged ANYTHING into the outlet, it would not work. It was like it had no power, so he called me. (I have a reputation of being able to fix anything.)

I plugged in one of the 3 light testers.

With the power switch turned ON, all 3 lights were lit.

With the power switch turned OFF, the red and middle lights were lit up which normally indicates a hot/neutral reversal, but the right light was not on. Note that this is with the power switch turned OFF.

Anyone care to guess?

[ktmrfs]

nineoaks2004 wrote:
You never break the hot wire,

well, lights and other switched circuits break (open) the hot lead.

and that is what NEC requires on fixed wiring as well.

[enblethen]

You always break the hot wire in AC circuits.

[nineoaks2004]

You never break the hot wire,

[westend]

Without knowing what the lights on the testing device indicate, no, I haven't a clue. Believe it or not, I don't own one of these testers.

[2oldman]

He's not asking what to do.

[NinerBikes]

Disconnect the wiring at both ends, and rewire it properly, at both ends.

[enblethen]

Red on and outside yellow on indicates a Hot ground reversal on my tester,
Check the outlet that feeds the cord(wire). Make sure it is correct.
Next open the switch up(physically) Make sure the ground is not touching the switched terminals.

[Ed_Gee]

Hard to guess without being there. My three light outlet tester does not show a diagnosis with " all three lights lit " . . . that is not an option. I must assume your father in law mis-wired the circuit - OR - the circuit he plugged in to was mis-wired to begin with. I'd have isolated that issue by plugging the three light tester in the source outlet - before worrying about the home made extension cord wiring.....