Questions tagged [neutral]
For questions relating to the neutral wire, or "grounded conductor" as it's sometimes called. The neutral, or "grounded conductor" in NEC, is the normal return path for electricity in a household AC circuit.
185
questions
2
votes
1answer
19 views
Two opposite phase circuits in one conduit… do i need 2 neutrals or an oversized neutral?
Im running two individual single pole 20A circuits though a single 1/2" EMT conduit and hanging a duplex outlet every 6'. They will alternate which circuit (phase) is feeding them (im running ...
2
votes
1answer
52 views
Wiring smart switch, confused about mishmash of wires in wall box
I'm trying to install a smart switch to control my 3 outdoor lights. 2 wall lights and a lamp in the yard. The house was built in 53, so I assumed there wouldn't be a neutral in the box, so I picked ...
0
votes
2answers
52 views
Smart dimmer: neutral, ground and copper wire capped together
I called an electrician today to help me install some smart dimmers in my home. For one of the dimmers, he tied up the neutral and ground wires from the dimmer to the copper ground wire in the wall. ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
How to wire 2 gang smart switch with two neutral wires and wire connecting both COMM
I am finding it hard to find a diagram for my specific case. I have 2 gang light switch and I would like to replace it with a smart switch. I have attached images
Am I right in saying the left COM ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Two wire at light switch
I have a 14-2 cable at the light switch in my room. White is my hot, black is my switch leg. At my light I have some older cloth braided sheathed wire. This also is a two wire nothing is labeled.
...
0
votes
3answers
119 views
Why did my generator trip the feed breaker in the subpanel?
I connected a Predator 9000 generator to an Intermatic pool subpanel through a 2 pole 30 amp breaker to backfeed the main panel through another 2 pole 30 amp breaker. There is a GFCI receptacle on the ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Safely possible? Back feed generator through existing 3 wire OR convert to 50A RV service
First time question asker, here. I have read several threads on this site, which is a great resource. I am still unsure if what I'd like to do is safely possible, so here I am asking about my specific ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
QO Main Service Panel - Ground lug question - CT resident
I have a fairly new QO main svc panel (QO142M200PCAFVP) which is being used as a service panel (bonded, not a sub-panel). The green screw (top right) bonds the panel appropriately.
The main 3 ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
How to differentiate neutral or ground bar?
This is the main panel, the green neutral bonding screw is there. How to differentiate the neutral and ground bars? In this case, does it matter which one I use as ground or neutral for the interlock ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
Can I disconnect a neutral whose hot is disconnected?
I was replacing a light switch, and in the junction box there is a romex that comes in where the hot was cut and shoved back in the back. The neutral from the same romex wire is connected to the other ...
3
votes
2answers
78 views
Is it possible to wire 2 GFCI receptacles on 2 circuits with 12/3 wire shared neutral?
I am planning to run a few needed 20amp outdoor receptacles (and therefore want GFCI). My plan was to run 12/3 wire from 2 separate circuits in the panel to a double gang weatherproof box with 2 gfci ...
0
votes
1answer
63 views
3 wire conductor to an electrical subpanel - Can I add a separate conductor for neutral in same conduit?
I'm installing a subpanel to bring power to a garage. Answers to similar questions make it clear that a subpanel must isolate ground from neutral, so the bonding screw will be removed at the subpanel....
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Neutral size in breaker box
Hello I have a regular 3 wire 120/240 system.
Whilst looking at the service drop and breaker box I noticed the neutral wire seems very small. It is definitely smaller than the two main conductors..
I ...
0
votes
2answers
49 views
Grounding and neutral in a well pump shed
I am working on a pre existing pump shed. The shed is 150 feet from the main panel.
For some reason the neutral has dropped. It is probably damaged.
The pump still works because it doesn't require a ...
3
votes
4answers
336 views
What to do with the neutral in a 240V 2-pole hot tub disconnect?
I'm planning a hot tub installation (nothing built yet). The current plan is:
50A 240V 2 pole GFCI breaker indoors (added to existing 100A subpanel)
4-wire from subpanel to exterior disconnect (2 ...
1
vote
0answers
44 views
Refrigerator restarts when a 3 pin plug is plugged to socket like Laptop Adaptor
Over last few months I'm noticing whenever I connect my Laptop cord and turn on the switch my Refrigerator in the kitchen is restarts as if power has gone and comeback.
This happens primarily with 3 ...
0
votes
3answers
51 views
Ground neutral bond screw on a PON main panel
I'm installing a Plug-On-Neutral (PON) main panel. There is a screw with a label indicating that if I need to bond the ground to neutral, tighten to 40lbs.
Now I know main panels generally have the ...
0
votes
1answer
76 views
Isolator switch for electric generator to change from bonded to floating neutral
I have an electric Power generator and have a manual transfer switch to use a Power generator when the utility power is out. So the electric power generator is used as is with bonded neutral when used ...
0
votes
2answers
48 views
Sub Panel Grounding method
I encountered a condition where a sub panel' s Neutral wirings are on both Neutral bar and Grounding bar, at a 1960' s home, with wirings are Romex and flex conduits. Subject sub panel served as the ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
Lighting fixture: 2 live, 2 neutral, no ground - Is is okay to have the 2nd neutral used as a ground?
I live in Germany and I have just moved into a new apartment and started to change the light fixtures, but I ran into confusion. Wires coming out of the ceiling are - two black & two white (no ...
1
vote
1answer
81 views
How can I get a neutral wire for this switch?
This switch is in my garage and controls lights at the end of my driveway. I want to replace it with a smart switch that requires a neutral wire. I've learned that I can't steal a neutral wire from ...
1
vote
1answer
17 views
Joining neutral of two ac power meters?
I have single phase power in my area
I have two ac power meters connections at my home. Last night there was a windstorm and neutral cable of once AC meter got broken.
I had black out in half ...
10
votes
3answers
1k views
Are the grounds and neutrals in this electrical subpanel reversed?
I would appreciate your feed back to help me understand the logic behind Bonding the Neutral and Isolating Ground as shown in the attached pics. Subject sub panel is dedicated to one of four ...
0
votes
2answers
62 views
Does this existing wiring with shared neutrals need to be corrected?
I've come across some existing wiring in my home and I wonder if it needs to be changed.
In my basement, there is a 4" box with a 20a GFCI receptacle. A conduit runs into this box. The conduit ...
2
votes
2answers
40 views
Safety differences between the various types of outlet (two-/three-prong, grounded/ungrounded, with/without GFCI)
I am an ordinary person with absolutely no knowledge regarding electricity and how it works (things like circuits and such) and I never really cared before until now when I sense potential safety ...
2
votes
2answers
56 views
Old house, no Neutral coming from APS pole. Neutral vs Ground
I'm installing some 110v Mini Split Air conditioners and want them on a separate breaker. The Main Panel only has 2 HOT wires coming in from the Mail Pole. The neutral wire is connected to the Ground ...
1
vote
0answers
73 views
Sub panel 3 wire and 220Volts
My mom just bought an old house (1917). The Main Breaker has 3 wires two hot from a 30amp 220 breaker and one ground going from the main into a sub-panel, there is no room to feed a 4th neutral wire. ...
0
votes
2answers
55 views
Lighting fixture removed, only hot wired to switch
The previous owner of my house removed a light fixture and installed canned lights in my living room. The light fixture location was capped and I had a switch that seemed to do nothing so I assumed ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
Is this a MWBC?
I think I have some MWBCs that are not handle tied. Can you tell from this picture if the bottom red breakers and top blue breakers are MWBCs? I can't trace back to the conduit and they supply "...
2
votes
2answers
130 views
Can a neutral be shared beween the line and load side of a GFCI if it's on the same circuit?
All neutrals are crimped together on this circuit. Not daisy chained. So I have one hot and one neutral from panel (line) and one hot downstream (load). And additional no neutral wire for going ...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
Smart Switch Wiring Question: What is the Need for a Neutral Wire? How to Provide One?
I plan to install a Smart Switch to control an outside outlet.
The existing electrical box is in my detached garage and it does not have a neutral wire. The box currently only controls a single GFCI ...
2
votes
0answers
26 views
Neutral line with two circuits
I’d like to install a GE smart dimmer and a GE smart switch into a four gang box. The box currently has four non-smart switches.
I determined that one of the switches is on a different circuit ...
0
votes
1answer
93 views
Can duct tape be used to mark neutral wires?
Hello I’m in search of code requirements as they relate to the use of duct tape for marking the neutral conductor in the service panel. My understanding is this is a code violation as duct tape is a ...
2
votes
4answers
199 views
Can I steal neutral from fixture for 3-way switch device with no neutral?
my 3-way switch is wired this way, because i am unlucky:
so i have neutral in the line box, no neutral in the load box. i want to use a leviton smart switch that requires neutral in both boxes. if i ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Why am I measuring 60v at some outlets?
The house I bought a couple years ago had a couple outlets in a small room in the basement that didn't work. Now I'm troubleshooting them. It's a finished basement so I can't tear down walls. There's ...
5
votes
5answers
4k views
240 Volts - No Neutral Required - How does Power Return to Earth?
I think this question is appropriate here in order to help DIYers (me) to understand why a neutral isn't needed on a 240 volt outlet.
I understand that two 120 volt power sources that are 180 degrees ...
0
votes
2answers
118 views
Apartment using ground wire as neutral
I was answering a trouble call in an apartment today that a pendant light fixture had come down and was hanging by the wiring.
I went to remount it, but noticed that the light fixture wiring was ...
3
votes
3answers
611 views
How to test voltage between neutral and ground
I'm not an electrician. Per, https://www.apc.com/us/en/faqs/FA158817/, I want to test the outlets in a room for the following:
Overloaded neutral wire (>5 Volts AC measured between Neutral and ...
3
votes
1answer
158 views
Understanding ground to earth and neutral, trying to make my home safe
I've been reading for hours and still confused in regards to my situation. I'm trying to improve electrical safety in my house, especially with a growing family.
Any help would be great.
I'm in ...
3
votes
1answer
684 views
Could a neutral wire be black?
I have these two switches which the left one is for the bathroom fan and the right one for the light.
Everything already works.
Now I want to add a minuter switch to the fan and the minuter have all ...
1
vote
1answer
464 views
Replacing timer with no neutral wire
I bought replacement for my bathroom exhaust fan. Basically what i bought was this:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-50-CFM-Wall-Ceiling-Mount-Roomside-Installation-Bathroom-Exhaust-Fan-ENERGY-...
1
vote
5answers
4k views
GFCI in a 3-wire sub panel with bonded neutral and ground
My detached garage has 100-amp 3-wire service from the main panel in my house, with a 100-amp breaker at each end of the feed. The grounds and neutrals are bonded inside the sub panel due to the lack ...
3
votes
3answers
138 views
Legal/safe? Neutral in box goes to different panel than the one that provides the hot
TL;DR:
in summary: the load (light) is in the garage, it is fed by a hot that originates in the garage, and it sinks into a neutral in the garage. The odd thing is that a switch loop extends from ...
1
vote
2answers
109 views
Can I use the ground wire as a neutral for an outlet?
I had a bulb light outlet, and I decided to convert it to power outlet.
Now when I took the bulb light off, I discovered that there is only two wires in the wall, brown and yellow green, so I assume ...
1
vote
2answers
194 views
4 neutral wires bundled, two smart switches, how to pair neutrals
I have 4 neutral wires bundled together, and two switches requiring neutral. Each switch allows an in and an out for neutral, as pictured. My question is, does it matter how I pair the neutral wires ...
1
vote
4answers
112 views
Can you have neutrals on ground bar only bonded through main panel body
I have just added a circuit to my main panel and saw something I wanted clarification on. For reference, my main panel is a Homeline 30 space panel with 2 extra grounding bars on the sides. Picture ...
13
votes
7answers
4k views
Why does my old table saw power switch cut both hot and neutral?
I am refurbishing an old Craftsman 10" table saw that has been collecting dust in the back of my shop for years.
I don't remember exactly how I acquired it, but to my recollection the one time I ...
3
votes
5answers
188 views
How do I know if this switch box has a neutral wire?
This outlet is two rocker switches. Left controls my bathroom light (4), right controls my bathroom fan (3). I am trying to install a timer switch so the fan is only on for ~30 min at a time.
The ...
0
votes
0answers
86 views
no neutral wire for smart thermostat
I want to install a smart thermostat 240 volt but there is no neutral available. Can I connect to the neutral of an adjacent 120 gang box (receptacle)?
3
votes
2answers
314 views
Can I combine ground and neutral wires before they connect to their bus bars?
I finally did my 50 AMP 15-40 Nema wiring. Couple of questions on it.
I don't have enough ground and neutral wire to reach the ground bar of the electric panel. Is it ok to join both neutral and ...
