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so you don't get shocked

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Q: Why does ac power have a hot wire and neutral wire?
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Why neutral wire does not carry current in closed ac circuit?

The neutral wire does carry current in a closed AC circuit. Clamp a clamp on amp meter around the neutral wire directly after the circuit load and it will read the same current as is on the "hot" wire.


Can a red wire be neutral?

In ordinary circumstances, a red wire is a secondary hot wire in an AC circuit, or the positive power leg in a DC circuit. Red should not be used as a neutral. If it is used for something other than a hot wire it must be labeled on the wire at all connection points- and would STILL be a bad idea.


What will happen if you get the main power from two live wires instead of a live wire and a neutral wire?

207 volts ac


What color is the positive in a 240v ac power cord?

There is no "positive" wire in an Alternating Current (AC) system, which is what a standard AC power cord or flex is used on. In a cord or flex for a small electrical appliance there is a always a "Hot" or "Live wire, a "Neutral" wire and maybe also a "Ground" or "Earth" wire. The "Hot" or "Live" wire is colored * Black in the US, Canada and other countries using a similar 60 Hz household AC power system.* Brown in Europe and other countries using a similar 50 Hz household AC power system. The "Neutral" wire is colored * White in the US, Canada and other countries using a similar 60 Hz household AC power system.* Blue in Europe and other countries using a similar 50 Hz household AC power system. The "Ground" or "Earth" wire is colored * Green in a cord or flex in the US, Canada and other countries using a similar 60 Hz household AC power system.* Green and Yellow in Europe and other countries using a similar 50 Hz household AC power system. For more information please click on the Related Questions shown below.


Which wires are hot for 240 volt AC household power supplies?

The Red wire is one phase leg "hot" and the Black wire is the other phase leg "hot" for standard 240 Volt household power supplies.Using a voltmeter to measure ac (alternating current) voltage, from the Red "hot" wire to the White (Neutral) wire should measure about 120 Volts and from the Black "hot" wire to the White (Neutral) wire should also measure about 120 Volts. From Red to Black should measure about 240 Volts. A Green-insulated or Bare copper wire is the protective Ground wire. 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 JOBSAFELY AND COMPETENTLYREFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

Related questions

Does an outlet still operate with a failed neutral wire?

The ordinary household AC power requires "hot" and "neutral" wires to both function properly. A failed neutral is a potentially dangerous condition.


Why neutral wire does not carry current in closed ac circuit?

The neutral wire does carry current in a closed AC circuit. Clamp a clamp on amp meter around the neutral wire directly after the circuit load and it will read the same current as is on the "hot" wire.


Can a red wire be neutral?

In ordinary circumstances, a red wire is a secondary hot wire in an AC circuit, or the positive power leg in a DC circuit. Red should not be used as a neutral. If it is used for something other than a hot wire it must be labeled on the wire at all connection points- and would STILL be a bad idea.


What will happen if you get the main power from two live wires instead of a live wire and a neutral wire?

207 volts ac


Why don't you need a white wire when wiring a 240v a c unit?

White wire is usually used as a neutral conductor and a 240v ac unit has no neutral. Each leg of the 240 volts is a "hot" leg However, very often a 12/2 or 14/2 NM cable is used to power small window ac units using 240v. In this case one of the conductors is white, but is not a neutral. It is good practice to mark the white wire with black tape so it is readily identified as a hot wire.


What color is the positive in a 240v ac power cord?

There is no "positive" wire in an Alternating Current (AC) system, which is what a standard AC power cord or flex is used on. In a cord or flex for a small electrical appliance there is a always a "Hot" or "Live wire, a "Neutral" wire and maybe also a "Ground" or "Earth" wire. The "Hot" or "Live" wire is colored * Black in the US, Canada and other countries using a similar 60 Hz household AC power system.* Brown in Europe and other countries using a similar 50 Hz household AC power system. The "Neutral" wire is colored * White in the US, Canada and other countries using a similar 60 Hz household AC power system.* Blue in Europe and other countries using a similar 50 Hz household AC power system. The "Ground" or "Earth" wire is colored * Green in a cord or flex in the US, Canada and other countries using a similar 60 Hz household AC power system.* Green and Yellow in Europe and other countries using a similar 50 Hz household AC power system. For more information please click on the Related Questions shown below.


Which wires are hot for 240 volt AC household power supplies?

The Red wire is one phase leg "hot" and the Black wire is the other phase leg "hot" for standard 240 Volt household power supplies.Using a voltmeter to measure ac (alternating current) voltage, from the Red "hot" wire to the White (Neutral) wire should measure about 120 Volts and from the Black "hot" wire to the White (Neutral) wire should also measure about 120 Volts. From Red to Black should measure about 240 Volts. A Green-insulated or Bare copper wire is the protective Ground wire. 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 JOBSAFELY AND COMPETENTLYREFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.


Can cross-wiring an electrical outlet cause a household fan motor to smell like it is burning?

I think by 'cross wiring' you mean reverse polarity. This means the hot wire is connected to the neutral screw and the neutral wire is connected to the hot screw. This shouldn't have any impact on an AC motor, since AC voltage already changes polarity 60 times per second.


Why neutral is earthed always?

The two wires carrying a standard ac power supply are the live and the neutral. By convention one of the two wires is earthed at the transformer providing the supply. That then becomes the neutral and the other wire is the live.


When an ac bulb glows the phase wire gives a shock when touched by hand but the neutral wire doesn't?

== ==


Can you tap off a 3 phase 277volt ac light fixture to power a single phase 120 volt ac recptacle?

NO! The voltages available in the 3-phase system are 480 (if you wire phase to phase) and 277 (if you wire phase to neutral) Don't try it!


Why do we have a neutral wire along with live wire in ac wiring connection?

Yes. The neutral wire is grounded at the distribution panel, so that the live, or hot wire's potential cannot exceed a safe level above ground. Without this ground, neutral and hot would still have their specified voltage difference, but the voltage to ground could be arbitrary, such as the primary high voltage input to the transformer, creating an electrocution hazard.