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If the breaker box is wired correctly the Black wire is hot, white is neutral.
However, because of the practice of using a common neutral, it's impossible to say that the white wire is not "hot" at any given time.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoWARNING: It is never ever safe to assume that the color of any wire means that it cannot be "hot" or live".
Do not assume you know which wire is which until you have actually tested it with a proper electrician's test meter or other approved electrical voltage testing device.
To be able to give this question a better answer than this, we need to know a lot more facts about the particular electrical outlet which is being asked about.
Facts such as:
- where is it?
- is it in a building or in a vehicle
- if in a building, in which country of the world?
- if in a vehicle, what make and type is it?
- if the outlet is in a building, what is it used for?
- is it for a small unit like a television or a pc, or
- is it or for a large high-powered appliance
such as an electric kitchen range or clothes dryer?
- if the outlet is in a building, what is the electrical service voltage
and ac supply frequency?
- is it 120 volts, 60 Hz with one hot wire and one neutral wire?
- is it 240 volts, 60 Hz with two hot wires and one neutral wire?
- is it 230 volts, 50 Hz with one live wire and one neutral wire?
- is there a ground or earth wire as well as the hot(s) and neutral?
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In USA, Canada and other countries using a similar 120 volt 60 Hz system, the Hot wire could be either Black or Red. (The Neutral is White and the Ground is Green or bare wire.)
In USA, Canada and other countries using a similar 240 volt 60 Hz system, there are 2 Hots, one colored Black and the other colored Red. (The Neutral is White and the Ground is Green or bare wire.)
In Europe and other countries using a similar 230 volt 50 Hz system, the Live wire is Brown. (The Neutral is Blue and the Earth is Green & Yellow.)
Answer for socket outlets and non-socket outlets for fixed appliances:
Note 1 for the UK and the Republic of Ireland:
Red for Live, Black for Neutral and Green & Yellow for Earth are still in common use because, until about 2004, they were used for 230 volt 50 Hz single-phase built-in lighting and power circuits - ring-mains and spurs - feeding socket outlets and directly-connected appliances and equipment.
The latest "European harmonisation", in 2004, changed the colors used for wiring new fixed spur and ring-main circuits. In 2006 use of these new colors became mandatory: Brown for Live, Blue for Neutral and Green/Yellow for Earth. (They are the same colors as are used for 230 volt 50 Hz ac flexible cords or cables feeding appliances.)
Note 2 for the UK and the Republic of Ireland:
In Britain and Ireland, which use 230 volt 50 Hz single-phase services, flexible cables going from appliances to plugs and fixed outlets have been colored Brown for Live, Blue for Neutral and Green/Yellow for Earth for over 20 years, whilst at the same time the colors used for built-in lighting and power circuits - ring-mains and spurs - feeding socket outlets and directly-connected appliances and equipment - continued to be Red for Live, Black for Neutral and Green & Yellow for Earth.
So Red for Live, Black for Neutral and Green & Yellow for Earth are still in common use.
The latest "European harmonisation", in 2004, changed the colors used for wiring new fixed ring-main and spur circuits. In 2006 use of these new colors became mandatory: Brown for Live, Blue for Neutral and Green/Yellow for Earth. (They are the same colors as are used for 230 volt 50 Hz ac flexible cords or cables feeding appliances.)
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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
∙ 11y agoGiven the information provided, it is impossible to know. Contact a local electrician or "handyman" for assistance with any electrical problem that you do not understand.
Add your answer:
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Which is the Hot wire and which is the Neutral wire if the wires you see are a Black a Red and a Yellow wire?
Black red and yellow is three-phase. there is no neutral.
Hot wire in a home electrical system?
If the home was wired properly the black or red wire are hot the white is neutral and the green is ALWAYS the ground
Do you join brown electrical wire to red electrical wire and blue electrical wire to black electrical wire?
yes
What colors are electrical wires with number reference?
eletrical wire has 3 specif colour coding. As live wire ,neutral wire,earth wire. 1.live - red 2.neutral-black 3.earth - green. These are the specific color coding of eletrical wire.
Ive got red wire and black wire plus earth does red go to L2 or com?
The red and black wires are Line wires in a 3 wire service and includes a common (neutral) wire.
Is red or white neutral for electrical work?
In residential wiring the white wire is neutral on the 120 volt circuits. On a 3way circuit the red is the traveler and the white is neutral. On a 240 volt 3 wire connection the white & black are hot. On a 240 volt 4 wire connection the black and red are hot and the white is neutral.
Is the white wire in the thermotat a neutral?
the thermostat has a black(line) wire to it, and a red wire going to it. the red wire then connects to the neutral wire. the black and red are like a leg switch.
Which is the Hot wire and which is the Neutral wire if the wires you see are a Black a Red and a Yellow wire?
Black red and yellow is three-phase. there is no neutral.
Hot wire in a home electrical system?
If the home was wired properly the black or red wire are hot the white is neutral and the green is ALWAYS the ground
Do you join brown electrical wire to red electrical wire and blue electrical wire to black electrical wire?
yes
What colors are electrical wires with number reference?
eletrical wire has 3 specif colour coding. As live wire ,neutral wire,earth wire. 1.live - red 2.neutral-black 3.earth - green. These are the specific color coding of eletrical wire.
What wire is always hot the line wire or the load wire?
The Load wire is always hot (black or red wire) and the Line wire is the one that returns to your fusebox (usually white). Answer above is absolutely wrong written by someone who does not know electricity and will get you electrocuted. The white wire is your neutral wire. The black or red coming from the electrical panel is the line wire. the black or red wire going to the next outlet or light fixture is your load wire. in some cases a white wire will be a line or load and should be indicated with black tape on it denoting it is not a neutral. quick recap is Line = power in, load = power out.
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.
Ive got red wire and black wire plus earth does red go to L2 or com?
The red and black wires are Line wires in a 3 wire service and includes a common (neutral) wire.
What are the color codes on 240 volt 3 wire?
In North America the cable colour coding is Red and Black, usually used for the current carrying conductors. The third wire is White and it is used as the neutral on a three wire electrical circuit.
What is the electrical wire colour for neutral in Australia?
Black in a black/red/green set, or blue in a blue/brown/green set. The hot is red or brown and the earth is green (note: I'm in New Zealand and assuming that the colors are the same).
White wire a black wire a red wire and a bare wire?
white wire = neutral bare wire = ground black wire = line voltage red wire = returned from a switch, or the other phase of line voltage in order to supply 240VAC
