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.
212
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40 views
How to tell whether metal junction box is properly grounded?
I have a detached garage that is powered by a circuit breaker in the main house’s breaker box, which is properly grounded. The outlets in the garage have metal junction boxes, fed by metal conduit ...
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3answers
57 views
Where do I attach the Ground and Neutral inside a sub-panel?
I'm wiring 100 amp subpanel to detached Garage with 2/2/2/4 copper. I'm hoping to replace the subpanel to my detached garage which was previously wired to run on a 40 or 60 amp subpanel with like 6 ...
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0answers
81 views
Generac standby generator Neutral
Hi hoping someone can help with a question. I'm trying to help out my brother.
He just picked up an older generac 7k standby generator (not the portable type) to use for power the garage (off-the-grid)...
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3answers
55 views
Still reading open neutral after restoring power to lights and outlets
We recently plugged a space heater into an outlet in our son’s bedroom and only ran it at night. At some point, all of the lights and outlets in the room except one outlet on the opposite wall stopped ...
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1answer
54 views
Neutral wires are burning hot, saw an ember
Removed the outlet and the three connected neutral wires were insanely hot. Have an extension cord running a heater, could it be the draw or do I just need a new outlet?
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2answers
113 views
Doorbell transformer - Installed in panel -doesn't work when green is connected?
Earlier today I replaced my doorbell transformer in preparation to install video doorbells. The old transformer was connected outside the main panel, and only had 2 wires. One to hot, and the other ...
2
votes
2answers
46 views
Wiring single circuit GFCI circuit breaker where a duplex GFCI breaker is shown in wiring diagram
I am wiring a hot tub. The spa subpanel I purchased (Eaton) came with a 50 amp duplex GFCI breaker which is what many spas use. I bought a used Hot Springs Spa and found instead of a single 240 volt ...
2
votes
2answers
68 views
Sharing multiple neutrals?
Found a junction box that splices all the neutrals for 5 separate circuits. 3 on one phase 2 on the other. All 12/2 romex.
Was trying to convince them to change it, but I don't have a good explanation ...
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1answer
31 views
Should a smart switch (that requires a neutral wire) cause my non-contact voltage tester to beep?
I installed 3 smart switches which are all on the same circuit in my house. I have never changed a light switch before, but I followed the directions very closely and watched a couple of Youtube ...
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2answers
88 views
Can I split a shared neutral between two GFCI breakers?
I have two 15A circuits that share a neutral. Currently, they go to two normal breakers, and I'd like to replace two those breakers (side-by-side in the breaker box) with plug-on neutral GFCI ...
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2answers
27 views
Adding a ceiling light to this circuit
I currently have the following circuit in a room:

I plan to add a ceiling light and was going to tie the light switches black and ground to the new ceiling wires black and ground, and then use a ...
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1answer
76 views
Why does my outlet have two white wires on the neutral side and one “neutral” wire is hot?
The breaker for my microwave tripped and when I turned the breaker back on it tripped again after using the microwave again. I tested the microwave in another outlet and it works fine. I went to ...
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1answer
37 views
Where should I place the C wire?
I have an old Lennox boiler which doesn't appear to have a PCB board. Originally the old honeywell thermostat had a 2 pair wire attached which included Red and White Wires. I snaked an 18/5 thermostat ...
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1answer
95 views
Convert 2 gang no neutral light switch into 1 gang to power a smart-switch that requires neutral. Possible? UK
This is probably not possible and instead just highlights my basic lack of understanding, but thought it was worth asking! If it is possible I would get a qualified electrician to do it.
I'd like to ...
2
votes
3answers
304 views
Does a neutral wire need to be run from a switch to the light?
We have an older church building that we would like to put our parking lot lights on a timer. We purchased digital timers only to find out that there is not a neutral wire within the switch boxes. We ...
2
votes
1answer
142 views
How to find a neutral to ground short on my main panel
I've just installed a subpanel in my attached garage. The rough in has passed inspection, however my main panel has standard breakers and has never had fault finding interrupter breakers in it, and ...
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0answers
37 views
Electrical outlets not working, garbage disposal on same breaker works
We've been running a portable A/C in our studio apartment for 5+ years (coastal CA, no central air). We discovered, upon adding a toaster oven, that if we run the toaster oven while also running the A/...
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1answer
61 views
One hot white wire in a switch box?
I have switch box that controls my under cabinet lights. I was replacing the lights themselves and had issues with them working, started troubleshooting and found that there is a single hot white wire ...
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1answer
61 views
Lost Nuetral - Turning Lights On Stops Others Flickering
Today we had lights flickering, odd brown outs, and power surges. Problems would come and go. Called our power company. The man they sent determined we had lost our connection to the neutral.
Before ...
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0answers
47 views
Can one circuit trip a GFCI breaker on another circuit with no shared neutral
I have two circuits in my main breaker panel.
Circuit 1 is on a 2 pole 60amp GFCI breaker. It goes directly outside from the breaker box and does not interact with the house aside from at the main ...
2
votes
2answers
137 views
Is this a weird or very problematic shared neutral?
I will try to explain it and I made a drawing that give an idea of what it seems to look like.
I just had some work done on my house (built in 1967) and the electrician found this weird connection.
I ...
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1answer
58 views
Bare neutral to subpanel in detached garage
I have an old house with a detached garage. There is power to the detached garage through a 3-conductor cable that is routed above ground. Power from my house comes from the power pole, to my house. ...
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1answer
164 views
What is the correct wiring (including Ground) for two main load centers plus transfer switch?
I will be building a new house and plan to have 400A electric utility service split into two 200A main load centers. One of those load centers will be tied to a whole house generator via an automatic ...
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votes
1answer
403 views
Can I connect the neutral wire ends via a single switch terminal (without a pigtail)?
I installed a smart dimmer switch that requires a neutral wire. It was in the junction box with the two ends wire-capped together.
My switch didn't come with pigtail wires and I didn't have any extra ...
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votes
2answers
67 views
Open Neutral in Circuit - Need Help Troubleshooting
I recently lost power to about five outlets on an eight outlet circuit in the kitchen. For what it is worth, there is a GFCI on the first outlet and the last outlet. The last outlet (GFCI) is ...
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1answer
12 views
Is the live block connection to go into the STC1000 correct?
The red wire goes into the live block of the STC1000 that I am working with (on the other end.) As I understand it, the red wire should be attached to the right pin (left in the image) of the plug. ...
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votes
4answers
34k views
What happens if ground and neutral are swapped in a light switch?
I’m replacing a light switch in an old house with lots of uncolored wiring. I removed the switch plate to find two black wires (connected to the switch) and a capped up white wire (see photo below).
...
5
votes
2answers
297 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
66 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 ...
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2answers
95 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
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1answer
43 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 ...
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1answer
49 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.
...
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3answers
139 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 ...
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1answer
96 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 ...
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1answer
72 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 ...
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3answers
3k 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 ...
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1answer
48 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
111 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
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1answer
92 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....
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1answer
61 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
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2answers
58 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
657 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 ...
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0answers
47 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 ...
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3answers
66 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
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1answer
115 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 ...
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2answers
50 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
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1answer
116 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 ...
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1answer
87 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
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1answer
24 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
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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 ...
