Hello Ron:

I am embarrassed to say that I did indeed read the electrical primer about two weeks ago. I found it so helpful that I printed it out and added it to the back of the electrical chapter in my Amazon manual. The voltmeter method of (not) passing current is almost surely the culprit; I used it only because I do not have a wire here. I am staying in an abandoned house until tomorrow so I am limited to the tools I had the foresight to bring.

Thanks again for all of the responses.

Cheers,

Jeff Pucillo