Neutral wire?

Other Devices & Integrations Lighting & Load Control
1

I’ve attached a photo of the switch in my house.

Wondering if anyone can tell what the wires are… (trying to determine if I have a neutral).

Was thinking I would see a red, white, green, black, ground, but it looks like red, 3xblack, and a ground.

Thoughts?

2

This is a 3-way switch. Depending on the positions of the switches in the circuit, any of the wires 3 black and 1 red could be hot. I do not know why there are two wires on the common, there isn’t enough information in the picture.

If there is a neutral in this gang box, it will likely be bundled in the back.

In the pictured wiring, neutral will be white. However, don’t assume that all white wires are neutrals.

Edit: Green and ground are synonymous. Insulated ground wires are green.

3

So I decide to take the trip over and end up picking one of only 2, 3 way switches… :slight_smile:

Anyway, it appears that there is a white/neutral in there…

4

I don’t understand what you are saying here.

This second picture appears** to be a standard 2-way switch with a line and load cable in the box. The Line and Load wires(black) are attached to the switch and the neutrals(white) are bundled together. It looks like a basic circuit.

** Appearances in household wiring can be deceiving. Never assume a wire’s function and never assume whether or not a wire is hot(energized). Always confirm with certainty that the circuit is de-energized and precisely what each wire’s function is.

5

+1

The first picture appears to show what looks like a 3 way switch with 2 line (black) cables attached to one of the poles. Insufficient info is provided as to where that 2nd line goes or what it is used for. The 3rd black line (load) most likely goes to the light it switches. There is the (copper) ground and a red (traveller)( wire indicating this light can be switched on and off from a second location. No white (neutral) cable is visible in the picture. Which does not mean there may be one in the gang box. Depending on the age of the home, don’t always counts on wire colors being correct.

The second picture shows what appears to be a standard 2 way switch with line, load and ground. As well as what looks like a set of neutrals in the gang box.

It doesn’t look like picture 1 and picture 2 are of the same location. More info would be needed.

NOte: I’m not an electrician but I stayed at a Holiday Express, I mean I am a home owner with access to electrian type people for tutelage. :slight_smile:

6

+1 on what the previous gentlemen have said.

And, I AM an electrical engineer and can explain the theory behind the NEC rules and regulations.
A stay at a Holiday Express would be nice though :slight_smile: