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Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.

In normal operating conditions, whenever there is a load on the circuit, the white wire - which is called the "neutral" - returns the current coming out of the load back to the power station.

The "hot" wire supplies the current coming from the power station to the load.

In residential wiring, convention is that the black wire is "hot" and the white wire is "neutral". This means that, if the circuit is wired correctly - and there is no fault in the circuit - the white wire should not have any potential difference (voltage) relative to ground.

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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.

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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.


What to do with the white wire in track light with black green and white wires if the house does not have a white one?

If the house wiring does not have a white wire, you can cap off the white wire from the track light with a wire nut and electrical tape if necessary. The white wire is typically used as the neutral wire, but if it's not present in your house wiring, capping it off safely will ensure the track light functions correctly with the available black and green wires.


What is the red wire and what wire does it go with when there are three wires black red and white?

Red, white, and black are standard for a three-way switch (you have two switches that control the same fixture). You should also have a ground wire (copper, unsheathed). The black and red are negative, while the white is positive. It works pretty simply. When the switch is up, the black and white are linked, creating a circuit. When it is down, the red and white are linked. If both switches agree (both are red/white or both are black/white), then the circuit is completed and power flows.


Have a black white and red wire for a dryer plug what ones the ground wire?

The green or bare wire is typically the ground wire for a dryer plug. If your wires are black, white, and red, the white wire is usually neutral, the black is hot, and the red is also hot. You should double check with a voltage tester to be certain.


Is the striped or the solid wire hot?

In standard residential wiring, the black wire is typically the hot wire, regardless of whether it is striped or solid. The white wire is the neutral wire, and the green or bare wire is the ground wire. It is important to consult a professional electrician or local electrical codes for specific wiring configurations.

Related Questions

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The black wire is typically hot, while the white wire is neutral.


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Light switch has 4 wire colors red and white and green and black which is the hot wire?

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Which of the two wires is hot which is neutral?

If this is a home wiring question and the wires are black and white then black is Hot and white is Neutral. If you also have a red wire, it is the other hot wire, and either the black or the red wire to the white one would be 120 volts, and red to black would be 240 volts.