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The neutral wire is the return wire back to the distribution panel from the load. Without this return wire no load will work.

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13y ago
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4w ago

In most cases, yes. A neutral wire is usually required for a light to work properly, as it completes the circuit and allows electricity to flow to and from the light fixture. If there is no neutral wire, the light may not function correctly or at all.

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Q: Do you need a neutral wire for a light to work?
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How do you wire a intertek 4003485 light fixture for a 42 watt fluorescent bulb?

When wiring a Intertek 4003485 light fixture for a 42 watt fluorescent bulb, follow the manufacturer's instructions provided with the fixture. Typically, you will need to connect the black wire to the live/hot wire, the white wire to the neutral wire, and the green wire to the ground wire. It's important to switch off power before performing any electrical work for safety.


Can you connect a white and black wire to a three prong extension cord that does not have one wide blade and if so which side would be white wire?

This will not work. Your neutral blade is gone. You need both for it to work.


How do you power an outlet from a one wire light switch on same wall?

You cannot directly power an outlet from a one-wire light switch as it does not provide the necessary neutral wire for the outlet. You will need to run a new electrical wire that includes a hot, neutral, and ground wire from the switch to the outlet to provide power. It is recommended to consult a qualified electrician to ensure the proper installation and safety of your electrical system.


Is black or grey wire live?

The color of a wire does not necessarily determine if it is live or not. It is always best to use a voltage tester to check if a wire is live before working on it, regardless of its color. Remember to always follow proper safety precautions when dealing with electrical work.


If a receptical outlet doesn't have neutral wire where is my problem?

If your receptacle outlet does not have a neutral wire, it may not be suitable for connecting certain devices that require a neutral connection. This can cause the devices to not work properly or be unsafe to use. You may need to consult with an electrician to see if a neutral wire can be properly installed to address the issue.

Related questions

How do you install a new ventilation fan on a second light switch using the power from the existing light switch?

you probably can't, you need a neutral and a live wire to make a fan work. switches normally only have live wires.


How do you wire a intertek 4003485 light fixture for a 42 watt fluorescent bulb?

When wiring a Intertek 4003485 light fixture for a 42 watt fluorescent bulb, follow the manufacturer's instructions provided with the fixture. Typically, you will need to connect the black wire to the live/hot wire, the white wire to the neutral wire, and the green wire to the ground wire. It's important to switch off power before performing any electrical work for safety.


Can you connect a white and black wire to a three prong extension cord that does not have one wide blade and if so which side would be white wire?

This will not work. Your neutral blade is gone. You need both for it to work.


How do you power an outlet from a one wire light switch on same wall?

You cannot directly power an outlet from a one-wire light switch as it does not provide the necessary neutral wire for the outlet. You will need to run a new electrical wire that includes a hot, neutral, and ground wire from the switch to the outlet to provide power. It is recommended to consult a qualified electrician to ensure the proper installation and safety of your electrical system.


Is black or grey wire live?

The color of a wire does not necessarily determine if it is live or not. It is always best to use a voltage tester to check if a wire is live before working on it, regardless of its color. Remember to always follow proper safety precautions when dealing with electrical work.


What happens if the white neutral is not hook ed up at the light?

Then the light won't work!!but it does work..


When you look at diagrams for wiring fluorescent lights you do not see clearly a neutral wire All electrical components need it Where is it in fluorescent lights?

Actually, many components do not have or need a neutral. 3-phase equipment such as motors, heaters and the like do not use a neutral. Some older 240V electric clothes dryers (in the US) did not have a neutral. The 2.5 ton, 240V airconditioner on my roof doesn't use a neutral either. Fluorescent fixtures do however, as you note, need a neutral. The two power wires coming out of the ballast are usually a black and a white wire in the US, the white wire is the neutral. On older fixtures with a separate starter, the white wire (neutral) may not go to the ballast. Instead it goes to the tube socket. It's still white, though. Note that many of the current rapid-start fixtures also need a grounded reflector to reliably start. These fixtures will require a hot, neutral AND ground conductor, properly connected, to work.


If a receptical outlet doesn't have neutral wire where is my problem?

If your receptacle outlet does not have a neutral wire, it may not be suitable for connecting certain devices that require a neutral connection. This can cause the devices to not work properly or be unsafe to use. You may need to consult with an electrician to see if a neutral wire can be properly installed to address the issue.


If there are two black and one white wire in ceiling light do I need to use both black for the switch to work?

If there are two black wires, it's possible that it was wired for a ceiling fan and that one of the wires is for the fan part while the other is for the light part. If so, one of the black wires may be switched while the other is always "on." Normally black is "hot" and white is "neutral" (NOT ground... ground is usually green).


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.


Can a green wire be used for a neutral?

'Can' yes. 'Should' no. <<>> Never use a green wire for a neutral. It is colour coded for a reason and that is to protect the people that work on electrical equipment. If you turn a ground wire into a neutral it then becomes a current carrying conductor. There are times in the electrical trade when grounds have to be disconnected and if it is used as a neutral and the tradesman is holding one end and touching a grounded object a shock will occur. Again never use a green ground wire as a neutral.


What does the term floating neutral mean?

This could mean a couple of different things. At some point in the power distribution system, the neutral bus is normally tied to the ground bus. If the neutral is not grounded, this could be called a floating neutral. More often, the term is used to describe a load, such as a light fixture or motor where the neutral wire has accidentally not been connected. The hot wire is live, but the device does not function. The neutral wire normally provides the return path for current to flow. This is a very dangerous situation. The live voltage flows from the hot wire, through the load, then into the neutral wire. If the neutral is not connected (grounded), it becomes hot! Everyone knows the hot wire can bite you, but we normally expect the neutral to be dead. We may carelessly handle the neutral, thinking it is dead, but if it is floating (unconnected), it could be live. Many people have been killed in this fashion. 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.