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In a properly wired switch, you should find a bare ground wire of copper. Using a DVM or voltmeter, measure the voltage between the ground wire and both wires attached to the switch. One should be hot or at 120 volts. The other wire will lead to the device the switch turns on or off. If there is no ground wire, you can run a temporary wire from a earth or pipe ground to get a measurement.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoFor a flexible lamp cord:
- If it is in the US, Canada or other countries using the similar wiring codes for 120 volt appliances, the "Hot" or "Live" wire is usually colored Black, the Neutral is usually colored White, and the Ground wire, if there is one in the cord, is colored Green.
- On lamp cord which is a two wire, the neutral is identified by a raised rib on the neutral side of the wire. If the cord has a molded plug on the end you will see that the ribbed wire is connected to the side of the plug that has the wider blade.
This is so that the two wire plug can not be plugged into the receptacle using the wrong polarity. Large blade (neutral) on the left, small blade (hot) on the right.
If it is in a country in Europe or other places around the world using similar wiring codes for 230 volt appliances, the "Hot" or "Live" wire is usually colored Brown, the Neutral wire is usually colored Blue, and the Ground wire, if there is one in the cord, is colored Yellow and Green.
However, no matter what colors you find in a cord or wired to a plug, no-one should ever assume that any particular wire is "hot" or "live" and that another wire is "neutral": the only way to find out for sure which wires are which is to know how to use a proper test probe or test meter whilst taking proper precautions for your personal safety to ensure you do not either electrocute yourself or end-up starting a house-fire!
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As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoYou always switch the HOT side of the light, never the neutral. This would be the black wire from your voltage source.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agohow to connect a lamp holder
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Light switch has 4 wire colors red and white and green and black which is the hot wire?
You have a 3 way switch. Your black wire is the hot wire. Your green wire is the ground wire. Your red and white wires go to the light and other switch. You should have gotten a wiring diagram with your switch.
Why is there continuity between ground and the hot wire on a light switch?
There isn't, unless you have a damaged switch.
How do you wire a light switch with only black and red wires?
Connect the black wire to the incoming hot wire and the red wire to the out going load.
How do you remove 240 volt light sensor and return to switch operation?
Remove the light sensor and place a switch between the red and black wires. The black wire is one leg of the "hot" pair and the load is connected to the red wire. This will now switch the black hot through the red wire that goes to the load.
Is there a danger if you mix up ground wire and common wire when wiring a light switch?
Power out of a switch is not negative. It is still the "hot" conductor. The ground wire in a switch junction box in home wiring is the bare wire. It is nearly impossible to mix these two wires up. Most likely if the "hot" supply comes into the switch box the neutral wire will be with it. Just wire nut the two white wires together, incoming and outgoing. The two black wires will be connected to the switch to operate the light fixture.
Light switch has 4 wire colors red and white and green and black which is the hot wire?
You have a 3 way switch. Your black wire is the hot wire. Your green wire is the ground wire. Your red and white wires go to the light and other switch. You should have gotten a wiring diagram with your switch.
When at a 2 pole light switch and the wire colors shown are black white and green which is the hot wire and which is the common?
the black wire is the hot wire
Why is there continuity between ground and the hot wire on a light switch?
There isn't, unless you have a damaged switch.
How do you wire a light switch with only black and red wires?
Connect the black wire to the incoming hot wire and the red wire to the out going load.
What should the reading at the light switch be when the switch and the light fixture is removed. I had a dimmer switch on that light it went out I checked the volts at the switch they were about 14?
On the "hot"wire that comes from the breaker panel the voltage should be from 115 to 120 volts. This is taken from the "hot" wire to either the neutral or the ground wire. If its not then you have a breaker problem or you are on the wrong scale of the test meter.
Where is the positive brake light wire located?
Should be HOT at one side of the brake light switch
Where hook up interior lights in 1969 Chevrolet?
I believe that it is a grounding switch. If that is the case it would only have one wire going to the switch. You could run this wire to any fused constant hot. The wire would run from the hot, to the light, to the switch.
Why is both wires hot on brake light switch?
If the switch is "closed" both wires should be HOT - with switch open one wire should go COLD-- if not defective switch
A light switch has three wire colors red and white and green which is the hot wire and which is the neutral?
Red is hot Green is ground White is neutral
How do you remove 240 volt light sensor and return to switch operation?
Remove the light sensor and place a switch between the red and black wires. The black wire is one leg of the "hot" pair and the load is connected to the red wire. This will now switch the black hot through the red wire that goes to the load.
Is there a danger if you mix up ground wire and common wire when wiring a light switch?
Power out of a switch is not negative. It is still the "hot" conductor. The ground wire in a switch junction box in home wiring is the bare wire. It is nearly impossible to mix these two wires up. Most likely if the "hot" supply comes into the switch box the neutral wire will be with it. Just wire nut the two white wires together, incoming and outgoing. The two black wires will be connected to the switch to operate the light fixture.
How do you wire a basic off switch to a light?
Light switch connection is usually straight forward. Find your incoming hot wires, black and white. With the switch in the off (down) position and the power disconnected , connect the black wire to the top screw of the switch. Find the load wires and connect the black to the bottom screw of the switch. Connect the two remaining white wires together with a wire nut and push them to the back of the switch box. Install the switch into the wall box, replace switch plate cover. Turn the breaker (power) back on. Flip the switch to the up position and the light should come on.
