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Posted by Smartass on September 26, 2009, 2:23 pm
Smartass had written this in response to
http://www.thestuccocompany.com/construction/how-to-know-if-unknown-wire-is-neutral-or-ground-17936-.htm
:
Stan wrote:
> I'm trying to add an outlet from 2 wires that are just hanging out of
> the wall. I followed the wires to the attic and only one wire goes to
> the attic. The other wire went somewhere else.
> I tested the wire and found out that it's either a ground or a
> neutral. How do I find out for sure if this is a "ground" or
> "neutral". If it's a neutral, then this outlet I'm trying to
> add is
> almost complete. If it's a ground then I'm in for another few hours of
> work.
> Thanks,
> stan
If you have 2 wires coming out of the wall and only one goes into the
attic, that suggests that your looking at wires for a switch rather than
an outlet. You may have an unswitched hot wire from the panel and a
switched hot wire to an overhead light, for example. That being the case,
the neutral is connected to the other side of the light socket.
The right thing to do is run a neutral wire from the panel to the new
outlet. There is a possible Micky Mouse solution: Short out the light
socket and the switched hot wire becomes neutral. Of course, that would be
a serious code violation! But it would work.
By the way, just because you measure 120vac on a wire is no proof that it
is hot. One time, I was installing a scale in the meat locker of a newly
constructed Grocery store. I plugged my drill into an outlet, and when I
pulled and released the drill trigger the refrigeration turned one and
off.
-------------------------------------
Retired tech.\//.
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> the wall. I followed the wires to the attic and only one wire goes to
> the attic. The other wire went somewhere else.