Search the forums

Loading
Home › Forums › Help and Feedback › the Editor's Corner

Nov 2009 Article on wiring

YesIWood's picture

Nov 2009 Article on wiring (post #178978)

YesIWood on Wed, 11/25/2009 - 17:49
in

Greetings,


  In your November 2009 issue of FHB there is an article on page 26, 4 Worry free Wiring Repairs.  It is very well written but my comment is the outstanding illustrations.  Very nicely done but I do have a question.  I was taught that when wiring a switch, the hot leads are bound together with a wire nut and the neutral is what would go to the common terminals on the switch.  This would ensure that the switch was not "hot" and provide a safer installation.  All your illustrations show that the hot is connected to the switch.  Have I been mistaken all these years?


Thanks in advance,


 


Joe


Even a broken clock is correct twice a day...


 

Joe

Even a broken clock is correct twice a day...

 

-A +A

(post #178978, reply #1 of 2)

by HWG in reply to YesIWood [original] on Wed, 11/25/2009 - 18:21

You should always switch the "hot" wire, not the common.  Even though the switch may not be hot the light fixture that it controls would be hot even though the switch was turned off, a very dangerous situation.  And, assuming the light fixture has a good bulb in it, the switch would still be hot with the current returning from the fixture. 

Woody

Woody

(post #178978, reply #2 of 2)

by BillHartmann in reply to YesIWood [original] on Wed, 11/25/2009 - 19:57

Neutrals are NEVER SWITCHED. However, in some cases the white wire is re-purposed and is no longer a neutral. In that case it is remarked, often with tape, to black or red or other color used for hot wires.

Note remarking the white wire when used in a switch leg was not always required and thus you will run into installations that show a white wire connected to the switch.

But, if wired correctly it is not being used as a neutral.

.
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
. William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe