I have a very simple full bridge rectifier(4 diodes + capacitor) rectifying the output from a variac. The rectifier seems to be working fine, as I can see a dc voltage difference between the negative and positive output that is a little higher than the ac input from the variac. The problem I am having is that there is a 120v ac voltage difference between the negative output from the rectifier and earth ground. This makes probing my circuit pretty much impossible. Is this what is supposed to be happening, or is something wrong?
Extra notes:
I did not wire the variac, and there is a possibility that the grounding is not done correctly somehow...
Touching earth ground to the negative output of the bridge is a dead short, and my breaker trips immediately
I don't really want to float the variac or the scope cuz safety
Thanks!