Mell What happens if a circuit does not have a neutral?
The neutral wire allows the completion of the circuit and the switch to have power even when it’s turned to the off position when you want the lights off. Without this neutral wire in place, the circuit is broken any time the switch is now in the off position.
Does neutral need to be connected?
Except in very rare situations, all neutral wires in a box must be connected. The neutral is how the current flows back to the supply, so if you don’t connect a neutral to one fitting it won’t work. You could connect three in one connector, then three in another, and have a link between the two.
Why does a circuit need a neutral?
Neutral wire carries the circuit back to the original power source. More specifically, neutral wire brings the circuit to a ground or busbar usually connected at the electrical panel. This gives currents circulation through your electrical system, which allows electricity to be fully utilized.
Why do 240V circuits not require neutral conductors?
If a device runs on 120V, one ungrounded (hot) conductor and one grounded (neutral) conductor are needed. If a device needs both 120V and 240V, then two ungrounded (hot) conductors and one grounded (neutral) conductor must be used.
Can a circuit be complete if the wires are apart?
Yes, the wires were apart! Without a continuous path back to the panel, and the neutral buss bar, the voltage has no place to go to complete the circuit.
Why is the neutral in a circuit called neutral?
It’s called “neutral” because it’s the conductor nearest ground voltage. It’s arbitrarily chosen which conductor to bond to ground. It’s possible to put the neutral in a weird place (wild-leg delta) or to bond no wires at all (normal delta) and thus have no neutral.
Can a neutral wire be connected to a hot wire?
The hot (black wires) were still connected and the breaker was back on, but without the neutral path the light won’t work, and the neutral ahead of that open splice will have power on it, the same as the hot wire.