edit: five year old. we’re looking for something a kid can understand. don’t need full theory with every implication here, just the basic concept.
edit edit: Y’ALL ARE AMAZING!!
In: 4172
If you have an older house (like me), there are two wires per service point, and they are both black. Buy a Klein $20 pen-style voltage tester. It will identify the neutral and hot. Slip some 3/8ths white heat shrink over the neutral and hit it with the heat gun (no cigarette lighters).
If an appliance has one blade wider than the other (on the plug), the wide blade is neutral.
For instance, I removed a light fixture, and installed a ceiling fan. Since the bulbs were LED, it matters which wire is neutral, unlike old-timey filament bulbs. Since they were low-watt LED, the load on that service point was not high, and the wires do not feel warm in use.
Put a blank booklet and pen next to the breaker box, and every time you identify which breaker goes to any appliance, write it down. It will save you headaches and time in the future. Have a working flashlight next to the breaker panel (with a set of spare batteries) for power outages.
Latest Answers