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.
150
questions
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2answers
91 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
272 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
125 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
101 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
60 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-...
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vote
5answers
3k 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
120 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
95 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
70 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
85 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
135 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 ...
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0answers
41 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
174 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
38 views
Wiring a Smart Wall Switch
I’m considering on buying a Xiaomi smart wall switch but I had to consider the neutral or no neutral switch which led to me opening my wall switch to check. Which got me even confused...
May I know ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Trying to wire switch outlet combo to existing two outlet. But the outlets each have 3 wires
I have 2 outlets, I want to replace with switch outlet combo (outlet always hot).
But looking online, I keep seeing everything has only one white neutral, but in my case, both outlets have a black ...
0
votes
2answers
148 views
Open Neutral Circuit yet all circuits outlets and wiring appear connected
I am stumped...I have not had an electrical problem in my family room and have lived in this home for 11 years...until a few days ago. A few days ago I plugged a laptop charge cord (new and in normal ...
1
vote
3answers
36 views
Connecting smart switch, identifying neutal wire
Im looking to switch out an old rocker switch to a smart switch, but the wiring appears to be unconventional. Two black wires attached to the same screw, and a white wire, which I am trying to ...
0
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5answers
242 views
Can I connect the ground pin of the wall socket to neutral?
I have leaking currents issues in my apartment. There are some appliances in the apartment that don't have a problem with a wall socket that doesn't have a ground; like, TV, mobile charger, laptop ...
3
votes
4answers
483 views
Trying to install 2 smart switches but neutral wires in box are not connected
I'm trying to install 2 smart wifi switches to replace 2 dumb switches in a box. 1 switch powers a dining room light. The other switch powers two kitchen lights that turn on/off together. As ...
1
vote
3answers
123 views
Is wiring the neutral in a circular path correct?
I have a bathroom that was re-wired to add a bathroom fan some years ago. I am wondering if it was wired correctly. Originally, I believe the overhead light was wired in a switch loop to a single wall ...
0
votes
1answer
87 views
120v on black and white wires
I have been troubleshooting this for some time now. Any help would be great!
A friend of mine's wife plugged in a hair dryer and lost power about 2 minutes into it. A few hours later the power was ...
0
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2answers
82 views
Ground Bus Bar on Sub Panel
I was working on a house with a sub panel for a shed/workshop. The sub panel was fed off the house main panel via 2pole 50A breaker. The sub was a load center type with no main breaker. The neutral ...
12
votes
3answers
3k views
Can ground attached to neutral fool a receptacle tester?
I'm using a basic outlet tester like the one from picture below. Let's say someone wired the ground to the neutral in some outlet, to provide a fake ground. What would the tester report? Would it be "...
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0answers
36 views
Main Electric Panel Neutral Bar
I have a Siemens 200 amp main service panel in my basement. The main service lines are two black and one black with a yellow stripe going to the neutral bar. The grounding bar is attached to a ...
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0answers
62 views
1 generator + multiple ATSes: how can I install this to Code without unobtanium?
I want to supply standby power to both units in a separately metered duplex from a single permanently installed generator. The cheapest way to do this is a pair of bog-standard ATSes and a smallish ...
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3answers
130 views
GFCI Circuit Breakers Wired Incorrectly
Just moved into 5yr old home, was looking to expand a garage outlet to afford more outlets. The outlet is below the panel is a GGCI outlet, however, the circuit breaker is not, so, I am going to ...
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vote
3answers
205 views
Can you attach more than one wire in a given hole on a bus in an electrical panel?
Is it permissible to attach more than one neutral or ground wire to any terminal screw on the service panel bus? A home inspector says this is not allowed. THAT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT, because all of ...
3
votes
2answers
465 views
Acceptable voltage between earth, Line,Neutral - Single Phase
I have a 240V+-10V 2 Wire Single Phase (UK) supply with TT earth bonding (earth rod).
The breakers are double pole.
The issue is with a lighting radial circuit.
This is a new electrical ...
2
votes
2answers
683 views
Wifi light switch needs neutral wire. Why? AND Can that wire be a skinny one?
What does the neutral wire do on a light switch that responds to wifi?
My suspicion is that when the switch is in the off position, the electronics in the switch need to still be powered, so the ...
3
votes
3answers
186 views
Neutral and ground connected to one bus bar in subpanel; should I change?
At my house, there is a subpanel that serves a pool area, served by one 30 amp 240v circuit. The panel, which I think was installed about 30 years ago, has just one bus bar that the neutrals and ...
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0answers
97 views
Can two loads use the same neutral return path?
I have a 220v circuit with two hot conductors. The connection has 4 terminals, L1 L1 L2 L2. The cable going in has a neutral conductor.
Can I hook the first of the L1 and L2 to the neutral ...
12
votes
2answers
3k views
Can I use a neutral wire from another outlet to repair a broken neutral?
Recently one wall of outlets quit working. Testing shows the hots are all good and the grounds are all good but the neutrals are all dead. They are all connected to each other but somewhere have lost ...
2
votes
1answer
84 views
Bonding vs grounding a main and sub panel
I am in the process of building a new home and of course I'm saving some money by doing all the wiring myself. I do have a decent bit of experience with electrical work, but the main panel is a little ...
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vote
1answer
92 views
Do I need a neutral on the other end of a three-way switch?
I'm looking at adding a three-way switch to a room. I'll probably drop the hot and neutral into Box #1, but 12/2/2 (hot, 2x travelers and a neutral) is fairly esoteric cable (nobody locally sells it ...
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0answers
52 views
Electrical wiring hook up sequence
I have found a box that as three duplex electric cables connecting. The neutral (white) from wire 1 and wire 3 are connected. The hot (black) from wire 1 is connected to wire 2, and the hot from ...
1
vote
1answer
60 views
Bathroom fan/light wiring help
I have old switches at home for the fan and lights.
In short, 2 switches to control fan and lights separately.
Recently, I've been trying to add a timer switch which requires neutral and it doesn't ...
0
votes
1answer
203 views
Electrical Outlet not working - Open Neutral
There are two outlets in our downstairs bathroom, one on each side of the sink. The one on the right side hasn't worked since we moved in. So, I decided to buy a tester and check it out. It said "Open ...
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vote
3answers
318 views
Bridging Neutral and ground in a Light Switch
I changed my bathroom light switch for a Occupancy Sensor Switch but it would not turn off. Since the package said Ground Wire Required I figured it was a ground issue. The location has wiring from ...
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votes
6answers
2k views
Why is the neutral tied to ground in my home's electrical panel? [duplicate]
What keeps the Electric from shorting to ground? On my electric panel the Neutral is tied to the ground. The ground is a bare copper wire run back to my water main.
a. Electricity chooses the path ...
0
votes
2answers
288 views
Removing a light switch cuts power to my entire room. Breaker not tripped. Smart Switch Install
I have installed smart switches before, but I moved into a new apartment recently. I have never had a problem before. I removed my old light switch and installed a new smart wifi light switch, and I ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
Dangers of connecting Neutral to case of blower?
(Not an Electrician) I have a 220V air handler (not part of the HVAC system its for a homemade wind tunnel) that I need to get power to. There is an old dryer receptacle (10-30R) in the basement that ...
1
vote
1answer
606 views
Is my plan to add a neutral wire to a switch box ok?
I'd like to add a neutral wire to an old switch box so that I can install a smart switch that needs a neutral wire.
I have a mud room and porch that each have a light fixture. The lights are ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
Installing light switch that requires neutral wire - wire is continuous through box
I have a new switch that requires a neutral. There is a neutral wire in the box, in the back, but it's continuous -- comes in one side and goes out the other. Is the proper procedure to cut it, then ...
2
votes
2answers
908 views
Why is neutral wired to ground at this switch?
I was looking to add an outlet near my light switch in the garage. When I opened the box for the switch I noticed that the neutral is wired to the ground. In the picture of the switch, the top wire ...
0
votes
1answer
252 views
Convert Three Way to Single Smart Switch
I have two switches set up as a 3-way and I'd like to take out one and install a smart switch for the other. I know I need a neutral, and I thought things would be good when I looked inside, but it ...
5
votes
3answers
508 views
Mystery current on neutral wires coming into outlet box
In reworking outlets and switches in our 1960's California home to use AlumiConn connectors + copper pigtails where needed (instead of older wire nuts + Noalox), I came across a duplex wall box in the ...
0
votes
3answers
270 views
When splitting a 240v circuit, what happens to neutral's amperage?
My garage has very limited power with only one outlet that I share with 3 bathrooms and every outdoor outlet, 4 total, on a 20 amp breaker. (House hastily thrown together in 97' for your reference) I ...
0
votes
2answers
416 views
How can I provide neutral wires for my smart switches?
I'm trying to install smart switches, which obviously need a neutral wire. I'm pretty sure I am lucky enough that I have it, but, want to make sure and also find out how to use it. I've attached a ...
0
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0answers
51 views
switch box red wire connected to white?
i'm installing smart switches, and found the neutral in another area so i assumed it'd be in all the switch boxes. Well not these two. It's a 3 way switch, and in the back of it there are white wires ...
