AC Electricity requires a positive (hot) and and negative (ground) to operate, I need to know when turning off a light switch which end of the power does it sever the positive (hot) circuit of Negative (ground) circuit. Reason I have some broken bulbs that need replacing but I don't know if the circuit is still hot even when the power is off.
2007-03-12 19:44:50 · 9 answers · asked by KSD 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
Ok, first don't listen to these guys, there going to get you killed. On a light switch, it cuts both the HOT (BLACK) and NEUTRAL (WHITE) wire. The GROUND (GREEN) is NOT required to run AC, it is there as a protection in case you have a short across the HOT and NEUTRAL wires. The GROUND (GREEN) is what trips the breaker in case of a short, and saves your life.
To make sure that the power is off, and if you don't know what breaker is the one to turn off, go to you local hardware store and buy a circuit tester. It costs about $5.00 and when holding it to a HOT wire (BLACK) or next to a light bulb, or inserting it into a plug outlet, the tip will glow red if the power is on. You must have one of these if your going to work on electricity.
All switches, switch the NEUTRAL (WHITE)wire, and not the HOT(BLACK). Switching the HOT will burn out the contacts faster than switching the NEUTRAL, but in the case of light switches, they switch both wires off.
DO NOT USE NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS, AND DON'T SHORT ACROSS ANYTHING!! I can't believe people would say things like that. You must have a circuit tester to see if the power is on.
DON'T RISK YOUR LIFE ON DOING ANYTHING STUPID LIKE WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE SAYING.
If you are unsure on what your doing, STOP, and have someone help you that knows about electricity
Electrician for 20 years.
2007-03-13 02:02:48 · answer #1 · answered by Cannibal 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Light Switch Connection
2016-10-16 12:46:03 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best and safest way would be to go to Wal-Mart and purchase a cheap circuit tester. One end of the tester to the shell of the bulb and one end to the center of the broken bulb base. Have someone turn the breakers off one at a time until
you lose the voltage. By the way, a switch has both the top and bottom connector connected with the hot wire. Your light socket and receptacles have both a hot wire and a neutral wire. And to be on the safe side, use a pair of long-nosed pliers with insulated grips, with the grips extended to place on each side of the bulb base to unscrew it from the socket.
2007-03-12 20:12:38 · answer #3 · answered by rockyboyrussell 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A switch can be installed on either side of the bulb and will work perfectly well either way. If you're going to work on the fixtures, you need to shut off the breaker for the circuit.
2007-03-13 02:39:39 · answer #4 · answered by KaeZoo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the electrician was doing his job, he would have installed the switch in the hot line, ensuring that when the switch is off, the outlet or socket should not be energized. This is why, when you do electrical work on your house, you should cut all power and double check with a meter.
2007-03-13 04:34:54 · answer #5 · answered by joshnya68 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the power is off, then it won't shock you. To be safe you could trip the breaker. If you don't have the breakers labeled and can't determine which one affects the light fixture and you don't know if your switch is off in the up or down position, then you can always take a well insulated screwdriver and cross the wires/filaments in the broken bulb. If there is a spark.....don't touch it. Flip the switch and try again. Remember...WELL INSULATED.
2007-03-12 19:58:19 · answer #6 · answered by beyondtheforge 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
a line running to a device the switch should be connected to the positive wire so that when the switch is off the device is safe to touch because there is no electric current flowing to it.
2014-12-14 05:43:07 · answer #7 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ac works on hot and neutural.. yes the ground is technically connected to the neutural but they are seperate entities. Switches if they are hooked up correctly are always switching the HOT.. If the switch is off you will not get any kind of a poke..
2007-03-12 19:50:08 · answer #8 · answered by tedthepenguin 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
on a swick you connect the cold wire to it. If you connected the hot you could get a ....tickle.....
2007-03-12 19:52:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋