Tour start here for a quick overview of the site help center detailed answers to any questions you might have meta discuss the workings and policies of this site about us learn more about stack overflow the company. On an outlet or fixture thats on the end of the run the neutral wire sends the current back to the source.
Checking Voltage From Neutral To Ground
How to find neutral wire. How to identify a hot neutral and ground wires using digital multimeter and a probe. When theres only one cable entering an outlet box it means the outlet is the last fixture on the circuit. It provides the return path for the current provided by the hot wire. A neutral wire is a type of wire in which carries currents back to the source of power and or regular voltage. Wire and cables deliver electricity from your main breaker panel or fuse box to electrical outlets appliances televisions stereos light fixtures audiovisual equipment and more inside and outside your home. On outlets in the middle of the circuit the neutral wire makes it possible for the current to move through the outlet to other outlets on the circuit and back to your service panel.
In the course of replacing this light receptacle i came across two white wires. How do you find out which wire is hot or the black wire. The white wire is the neutral wire. Why we do not join ground wires and neutral wires together downstream of the service equipment. The copper wire is called the ground wire because it is connected to the earth either directly or through another grounded conductor. Its not just insteon switches and dimmers but most smart lighting in general that call for this neutral wire.
Charles buell 1055368 views. Why is this so important though. Essentially it allows power to return to its original source. How to identify hot wire. There are a few hardwired automated switches that dont need a neutral wire but these are in the minority. We will discuss the purpose of the neutral wire a bit later.
Power comes from the service panel along the black hot wire through other outlets switches and light fixtures on the circuit and begins its return to the source through the white neutral wire attached to this outlet. How to identify live wire with mulitmeter. How to identify neutral and ground wires. Common house wiring colors.