When wiring a switch, should I break the neutral or power wire? [duplicate]

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  • Is Switching the Neutral OK?

    7 answers



My husband has always wired a switch to break the neutral wire to turn a light on and off. I can remember for 40 years he has said to "break the neutral". However, our son worked as an electrician for 2 years and he said you always "break" the "power" wire (black one) Who is correct? Thank you!!










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marked as duplicate by Machavity, DoxyLover, ThreePhaseEel electrical
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Feb 4 at 23:45


This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.













  • 5





    i wonder why in the world anyone would break the neutral to turn off power?

    – jsotola
    Feb 4 at 19:07






  • 7





    Break the hot, not the neutral. That way it is possible to de-energize the lamp in case of a problem. I once detected some internal hot-ground arcing in a lamp, so I ran over and shut the switch off. If the guy had switched neutral, I would have been sunk. More routinely, you want to de-energize the fixture so you can change the bulb or extract a broken bulb without getting nailed. Being stunned when you are on the top of a ladder can mean being killed.

    – Harper
    Feb 4 at 19:16












  • @jsotola: Some kinds of switching arrangements could benefit from being able to break hot and neutral separately. For example, in a darkroom one might want to have a switch at each workstation that will turn on a "normal" light if a master light switch is on, but turn an indicator light that's small enough to avoid fogging paper in any case. Switching the neutral of the main lights, if it were allowed (which it isn't) would considerably reduce the amount of wiring required as well as the need for double-pole switches.

    – supercat
    Feb 4 at 22:38
















10
















This question already has an answer here:



  • Is Switching the Neutral OK?

    7 answers



My husband has always wired a switch to break the neutral wire to turn a light on and off. I can remember for 40 years he has said to "break the neutral". However, our son worked as an electrician for 2 years and he said you always "break" the "power" wire (black one) Who is correct? Thank you!!










share|improve this question















marked as duplicate by Machavity, DoxyLover, ThreePhaseEel electrical
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Feb 4 at 23:45


This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.













  • 5





    i wonder why in the world anyone would break the neutral to turn off power?

    – jsotola
    Feb 4 at 19:07






  • 7





    Break the hot, not the neutral. That way it is possible to de-energize the lamp in case of a problem. I once detected some internal hot-ground arcing in a lamp, so I ran over and shut the switch off. If the guy had switched neutral, I would have been sunk. More routinely, you want to de-energize the fixture so you can change the bulb or extract a broken bulb without getting nailed. Being stunned when you are on the top of a ladder can mean being killed.

    – Harper
    Feb 4 at 19:16












  • @jsotola: Some kinds of switching arrangements could benefit from being able to break hot and neutral separately. For example, in a darkroom one might want to have a switch at each workstation that will turn on a "normal" light if a master light switch is on, but turn an indicator light that's small enough to avoid fogging paper in any case. Switching the neutral of the main lights, if it were allowed (which it isn't) would considerably reduce the amount of wiring required as well as the need for double-pole switches.

    – supercat
    Feb 4 at 22:38














10












10








10









This question already has an answer here:



  • Is Switching the Neutral OK?

    7 answers



My husband has always wired a switch to break the neutral wire to turn a light on and off. I can remember for 40 years he has said to "break the neutral". However, our son worked as an electrician for 2 years and he said you always "break" the "power" wire (black one) Who is correct? Thank you!!










share|improve this question

















This question already has an answer here:



  • Is Switching the Neutral OK?

    7 answers



My husband has always wired a switch to break the neutral wire to turn a light on and off. I can remember for 40 years he has said to "break the neutral". However, our son worked as an electrician for 2 years and he said you always "break" the "power" wire (black one) Who is correct? Thank you!!





This question already has an answer here:



  • Is Switching the Neutral OK?

    7 answers







electrical






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edited Feb 4 at 20:31









Jerry_Contrary

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2,270318










asked Feb 4 at 18:47









PeggyPeggy

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marked as duplicate by Machavity, DoxyLover, ThreePhaseEel electrical
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Feb 4 at 23:45


This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.









marked as duplicate by Machavity, DoxyLover, ThreePhaseEel electrical
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Feb 4 at 23:45


This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.









  • 5





    i wonder why in the world anyone would break the neutral to turn off power?

    – jsotola
    Feb 4 at 19:07






  • 7





    Break the hot, not the neutral. That way it is possible to de-energize the lamp in case of a problem. I once detected some internal hot-ground arcing in a lamp, so I ran over and shut the switch off. If the guy had switched neutral, I would have been sunk. More routinely, you want to de-energize the fixture so you can change the bulb or extract a broken bulb without getting nailed. Being stunned when you are on the top of a ladder can mean being killed.

    – Harper
    Feb 4 at 19:16












  • @jsotola: Some kinds of switching arrangements could benefit from being able to break hot and neutral separately. For example, in a darkroom one might want to have a switch at each workstation that will turn on a "normal" light if a master light switch is on, but turn an indicator light that's small enough to avoid fogging paper in any case. Switching the neutral of the main lights, if it were allowed (which it isn't) would considerably reduce the amount of wiring required as well as the need for double-pole switches.

    – supercat
    Feb 4 at 22:38













  • 5





    i wonder why in the world anyone would break the neutral to turn off power?

    – jsotola
    Feb 4 at 19:07






  • 7





    Break the hot, not the neutral. That way it is possible to de-energize the lamp in case of a problem. I once detected some internal hot-ground arcing in a lamp, so I ran over and shut the switch off. If the guy had switched neutral, I would have been sunk. More routinely, you want to de-energize the fixture so you can change the bulb or extract a broken bulb without getting nailed. Being stunned when you are on the top of a ladder can mean being killed.

    – Harper
    Feb 4 at 19:16












  • @jsotola: Some kinds of switching arrangements could benefit from being able to break hot and neutral separately. For example, in a darkroom one might want to have a switch at each workstation that will turn on a "normal" light if a master light switch is on, but turn an indicator light that's small enough to avoid fogging paper in any case. Switching the neutral of the main lights, if it were allowed (which it isn't) would considerably reduce the amount of wiring required as well as the need for double-pole switches.

    – supercat
    Feb 4 at 22:38








5




5





i wonder why in the world anyone would break the neutral to turn off power?

– jsotola
Feb 4 at 19:07





i wonder why in the world anyone would break the neutral to turn off power?

– jsotola
Feb 4 at 19:07




7




7





Break the hot, not the neutral. That way it is possible to de-energize the lamp in case of a problem. I once detected some internal hot-ground arcing in a lamp, so I ran over and shut the switch off. If the guy had switched neutral, I would have been sunk. More routinely, you want to de-energize the fixture so you can change the bulb or extract a broken bulb without getting nailed. Being stunned when you are on the top of a ladder can mean being killed.

– Harper
Feb 4 at 19:16






Break the hot, not the neutral. That way it is possible to de-energize the lamp in case of a problem. I once detected some internal hot-ground arcing in a lamp, so I ran over and shut the switch off. If the guy had switched neutral, I would have been sunk. More routinely, you want to de-energize the fixture so you can change the bulb or extract a broken bulb without getting nailed. Being stunned when you are on the top of a ladder can mean being killed.

– Harper
Feb 4 at 19:16














@jsotola: Some kinds of switching arrangements could benefit from being able to break hot and neutral separately. For example, in a darkroom one might want to have a switch at each workstation that will turn on a "normal" light if a master light switch is on, but turn an indicator light that's small enough to avoid fogging paper in any case. Switching the neutral of the main lights, if it were allowed (which it isn't) would considerably reduce the amount of wiring required as well as the need for double-pole switches.

– supercat
Feb 4 at 22:38






@jsotola: Some kinds of switching arrangements could benefit from being able to break hot and neutral separately. For example, in a darkroom one might want to have a switch at each workstation that will turn on a "normal" light if a master light switch is on, but turn an indicator light that's small enough to avoid fogging paper in any case. Switching the neutral of the main lights, if it were allowed (which it isn't) would considerably reduce the amount of wiring required as well as the need for double-pole switches.

– supercat
Feb 4 at 22:38











2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















11














There was a time when switching the neutral was a common practice, but it was way more than 40 years ago. It's no longer permitted:




NEC 404.2(B) Grounded Conductors. Switches or circuit breakers
shall not disconnect the grounded conductor of a circuit.




(In the case of your home, and in most cases, the neutral is grounded so the neutral wire is the grounded conductor.)



This way when receptacles, light switches, etc. are switched off, they do not carry any voltage to ground, making them safer for light bulb changing, etc.






share|improve this answer






























    8














    Listen to the electrician. If you break the neutral, there is still power going to the fixture or the outlet, and if you contact a hot surface, you can get a serious shock.



    Code requires breaking the hot (power) and always maintaining a connected neutral. (110 volt US systems)






    share|improve this answer


















    • 1





      This was also a problem with non-polarized, 2-prong plugs: if you plugged it in "backward", the on/off switch would break the neutral rather than hot, and your bulb's screw shell would remain "hot" even with the switch off, creating an unnecessary risk of shock to anyone unscrewing that bulb.

      – Upnorth
      Feb 6 at 19:59











    • @Upnorth Hence the requirement that any plug-in device that has metal parts that might be energized and accessible have a polarized plug. Only "double-insulated" devices can use non polarized plugs.

      – bib
      Feb 6 at 20:11

















    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    11














    There was a time when switching the neutral was a common practice, but it was way more than 40 years ago. It's no longer permitted:




    NEC 404.2(B) Grounded Conductors. Switches or circuit breakers
    shall not disconnect the grounded conductor of a circuit.




    (In the case of your home, and in most cases, the neutral is grounded so the neutral wire is the grounded conductor.)



    This way when receptacles, light switches, etc. are switched off, they do not carry any voltage to ground, making them safer for light bulb changing, etc.






    share|improve this answer



























      11














      There was a time when switching the neutral was a common practice, but it was way more than 40 years ago. It's no longer permitted:




      NEC 404.2(B) Grounded Conductors. Switches or circuit breakers
      shall not disconnect the grounded conductor of a circuit.




      (In the case of your home, and in most cases, the neutral is grounded so the neutral wire is the grounded conductor.)



      This way when receptacles, light switches, etc. are switched off, they do not carry any voltage to ground, making them safer for light bulb changing, etc.






      share|improve this answer

























        11












        11








        11







        There was a time when switching the neutral was a common practice, but it was way more than 40 years ago. It's no longer permitted:




        NEC 404.2(B) Grounded Conductors. Switches or circuit breakers
        shall not disconnect the grounded conductor of a circuit.




        (In the case of your home, and in most cases, the neutral is grounded so the neutral wire is the grounded conductor.)



        This way when receptacles, light switches, etc. are switched off, they do not carry any voltage to ground, making them safer for light bulb changing, etc.






        share|improve this answer













        There was a time when switching the neutral was a common practice, but it was way more than 40 years ago. It's no longer permitted:




        NEC 404.2(B) Grounded Conductors. Switches or circuit breakers
        shall not disconnect the grounded conductor of a circuit.




        (In the case of your home, and in most cases, the neutral is grounded so the neutral wire is the grounded conductor.)



        This way when receptacles, light switches, etc. are switched off, they do not carry any voltage to ground, making them safer for light bulb changing, etc.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Feb 4 at 19:06









        batsplatstersonbatsplatsterson

        12.6k11538




        12.6k11538























            8














            Listen to the electrician. If you break the neutral, there is still power going to the fixture or the outlet, and if you contact a hot surface, you can get a serious shock.



            Code requires breaking the hot (power) and always maintaining a connected neutral. (110 volt US systems)






            share|improve this answer


















            • 1





              This was also a problem with non-polarized, 2-prong plugs: if you plugged it in "backward", the on/off switch would break the neutral rather than hot, and your bulb's screw shell would remain "hot" even with the switch off, creating an unnecessary risk of shock to anyone unscrewing that bulb.

              – Upnorth
              Feb 6 at 19:59











            • @Upnorth Hence the requirement that any plug-in device that has metal parts that might be energized and accessible have a polarized plug. Only "double-insulated" devices can use non polarized plugs.

              – bib
              Feb 6 at 20:11















            8














            Listen to the electrician. If you break the neutral, there is still power going to the fixture or the outlet, and if you contact a hot surface, you can get a serious shock.



            Code requires breaking the hot (power) and always maintaining a connected neutral. (110 volt US systems)






            share|improve this answer


















            • 1





              This was also a problem with non-polarized, 2-prong plugs: if you plugged it in "backward", the on/off switch would break the neutral rather than hot, and your bulb's screw shell would remain "hot" even with the switch off, creating an unnecessary risk of shock to anyone unscrewing that bulb.

              – Upnorth
              Feb 6 at 19:59











            • @Upnorth Hence the requirement that any plug-in device that has metal parts that might be energized and accessible have a polarized plug. Only "double-insulated" devices can use non polarized plugs.

              – bib
              Feb 6 at 20:11













            8












            8








            8







            Listen to the electrician. If you break the neutral, there is still power going to the fixture or the outlet, and if you contact a hot surface, you can get a serious shock.



            Code requires breaking the hot (power) and always maintaining a connected neutral. (110 volt US systems)






            share|improve this answer













            Listen to the electrician. If you break the neutral, there is still power going to the fixture or the outlet, and if you contact a hot surface, you can get a serious shock.



            Code requires breaking the hot (power) and always maintaining a connected neutral. (110 volt US systems)







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Feb 4 at 19:29









            bibbib

            31.2k95392




            31.2k95392







            • 1





              This was also a problem with non-polarized, 2-prong plugs: if you plugged it in "backward", the on/off switch would break the neutral rather than hot, and your bulb's screw shell would remain "hot" even with the switch off, creating an unnecessary risk of shock to anyone unscrewing that bulb.

              – Upnorth
              Feb 6 at 19:59











            • @Upnorth Hence the requirement that any plug-in device that has metal parts that might be energized and accessible have a polarized plug. Only "double-insulated" devices can use non polarized plugs.

              – bib
              Feb 6 at 20:11












            • 1





              This was also a problem with non-polarized, 2-prong plugs: if you plugged it in "backward", the on/off switch would break the neutral rather than hot, and your bulb's screw shell would remain "hot" even with the switch off, creating an unnecessary risk of shock to anyone unscrewing that bulb.

              – Upnorth
              Feb 6 at 19:59











            • @Upnorth Hence the requirement that any plug-in device that has metal parts that might be energized and accessible have a polarized plug. Only "double-insulated" devices can use non polarized plugs.

              – bib
              Feb 6 at 20:11







            1




            1





            This was also a problem with non-polarized, 2-prong plugs: if you plugged it in "backward", the on/off switch would break the neutral rather than hot, and your bulb's screw shell would remain "hot" even with the switch off, creating an unnecessary risk of shock to anyone unscrewing that bulb.

            – Upnorth
            Feb 6 at 19:59





            This was also a problem with non-polarized, 2-prong plugs: if you plugged it in "backward", the on/off switch would break the neutral rather than hot, and your bulb's screw shell would remain "hot" even with the switch off, creating an unnecessary risk of shock to anyone unscrewing that bulb.

            – Upnorth
            Feb 6 at 19:59













            @Upnorth Hence the requirement that any plug-in device that has metal parts that might be energized and accessible have a polarized plug. Only "double-insulated" devices can use non polarized plugs.

            – bib
            Feb 6 at 20:11





            @Upnorth Hence the requirement that any plug-in device that has metal parts that might be energized and accessible have a polarized plug. Only "double-insulated" devices can use non polarized plugs.

            – bib
            Feb 6 at 20:11


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