Live And Neutral Wires Usa
The hot and neutral lines should be two distinct colors but the colors can vary for the different wires.
Live and neutral wires usa. When the neutral is disconnected 240 volts remain which is too much for a 120 volt appliance. 120 volts is between the hot live wire s and the neutral wire. This is a safety feature in case the hot or neutral wires somehow come in contact with metal parts. The plug contains three wires the live neutral and earth wires.
The neutral wire is joined in conjunction with the live wire to balance the potential difference. In a 3 wire circuit the neutral wire is created when you have a power source that is center tapped ct thereby creating. Identifying electrical wiring properly is an important step when replacing a light fixture installing an outlet or handling other electrical work. Between the two live wires we have 240 volts.
Wiring colour codes for ac and dc power distribution circuits have changed on numerous occasions and vary depending on region. Live neutral and earth are labels that are used to convey some information on the use of each wire. So both wires could be considered live wires. Simply put you want 120 volts at the outlet in your home.
The neutral wire is at potential of zero volt. In a plug the live wire brown and the neutral wire blue are the two wires that form the complete circuit with a household. Electrical wiring is an electrical installation of cabling and associated devices such as switches distribution boards sockets and light fittings in a structure. The neutral wire forms a part of the live circuit along with the hot wire.
Though it serves nothing. Learn how to identify wires for your safety. The protective ground must be bare green or green yellow striped. Earth wire neutral wire live wire line 2 wire line 3 electrical wire.
For three phase electricity supply circuits will use five wires. However common practice per local electrical inspectors is for the first hot live or active wire to be black and the. This article details the following cable colour codes. Wiring is subject to safety standards for design and installation.
These include corrugated metal armored cable mineral insulated cable other types of power cable and various types of electrical. Several other types of wiring systems are used for building wiring in the united states. For grounding regardless of the voltage green or a bare wire is used. With respect to timothy s question.
In contrast the ground wire is connected to any metal parts in an appliance such as a microwave oven or coffee pot. Allowable wire and cable types and sizes are specified according to the circuit operating voltage and electric current capability with further restrictions on the. The us national electrical code for both ac and dc mandates that the grounded neutral conductor of a power system be white or grey. Live wire is the cord through which the main heavy current flows at 220 volt.