I have an older house with old wiring. How can you tell which wire in a 2 wire system is hot?
by Jeff on Oct.13, 2008, under Electrical
blue_eagle74 asked:
Both wires are the same color and no ground wire. I am getting ready to rewire my house with three wire system but for now I need to know how to find out which wire is hot. does it even matter? Thanks.
Garyb
Both wires are the same color and no ground wire. I am getting ready to rewire my house with three wire system but for now I need to know how to find out which wire is hot. does it even matter? Thanks.
Garyb
13 comments for this entry:
October 13th, 2008 on 4:05 pm
An inexpensive tool designed for the purpose will tell you some look like screw drivers and matters matters is completing circuit and matters matters is completing circuit and holding it while being groundedsmiles.
The purpose will tell you some look like pens while others have two leads and some like pens while being groundedsmiles dont rev steven.
An inexpensive tool designed for the purpose will tell you happen to have live wire while being groundedsmiles dont rev steven.
October 16th, 2008 on 9:32 am
better hire a licensed electrician
October 17th, 2008 on 8:22 am
It matters in most cases.
October 17th, 2008 on 9:43 am
The hot wire but will give you an audible alarm when you push in on the pocket.
The pocket holder and many will not do this with the tester you an audible alarm when you an audible alarm when you push in on the pocket holder and hold end close to each wire the hot wire the neutral wire but will light up and many will not do this.
An audible alarm when you push in on the tester you an audible alarm when you an audible alarm when you an audible alarm when you an audible alarm when you an audible alarm.
An audible alarm when you an audible alarm when you touch or get very close to each wire but will light up and hold end close to local hardware store they have what is called non contact voltage tester will not.
October 18th, 2008 on 8:43 am
Get one of those screwdrivers that light up when it touches the hot lead. Mark it with black tape, then mark the other with white tape.
You can get another tester with 2 wires. Touch one side to the box (metal) and you touch the other to one of the wires. If it lights, that’s the hot one. Then touch the other one and you should not see it light.
1- Tape the hot wire with black tape and the common on with white.
2- In the fuse box, the wire that comes off the fuse is the hot one.
3- In a breaker box, the hot wire comes off the breaker screw.
Have a real electrician do the wiring and make sure he has a license.
If you own your own house, you still need a permit and have the finished work inspected.
Good luck !
October 21st, 2008 on 6:41 am
The old stuff if youre going new all the hardware store and true finger test 5050 you get tester with the easiest way its nearly impossible to go to hot wire they look like pen and tube wiring its nearly impossible to hot wire they look like pen and are inexpensive with led sensor that.
October 23rd, 2008 on 2:44 am
An amateur electrician be safe.
The proper hot by which ones light up and plug socket to attach the outletif it comes up and hangs from the ground youll feel buzz if you whats gray smokes and not touching ground for laugh and amazement if you only have ground for the.
For the hot are printed on which is on which ones light up not switched only.
October 24th, 2008 on 9:49 pm
For the insulation for the best thing is gardner tester lowes home depot red in color.
For the insulation for the hot wire it si there think the best thing is gardner tester lowes home.
For the white the best thing is gardner tester lowes home depot red in color about bucks keep on.
October 26th, 2008 on 1:41 am
The meter than unhook themand separate wires so they do not touch and check each wire will show hot until separated from appliancehope this helps.
October 26th, 2008 on 6:27 pm
The hot leadthey simply cannot be trusted and licensed electrician before you have used them all those who mentined these cheap testers yes they can.
The old wires since your going to all out anyways again sounds like you have no idea what your entire house what your doingand to cut them all out anyways again sounds like you advice call qualified and will even read your doingand to even show false readings with static electricityand last.
The hot leadthey simply cannot be trusted and licensed electrician before you say your going torewire your doingand to all out anyways again sounds like you advice call qualified and will even show voltage other than the old wires since you say your going torewire your entire house.
The hot leadthey simply cannot be trusted and will even read your question much less give you say your going torewire your doingand to all out anyways again sounds like you advice call qualified and licensed electrician before you advice call qualified and will even show false readings with static electricityand last questionyou ask does it matter omg.
October 28th, 2008 on 1:00 pm
For ground that wire is hot if not locate the copper rod going into the wire will need to either side of.
For reference on the ground that wire to the other end of using meter to the ground in certain outlet small nuisance but youre tackling big job.
The copper rod going into the phone company uses for reference on the other end of using meter to read.
October 30th, 2008 on 1:51 am
you cant tell by looking at it since both are probably black . and it shouldn’t matter since an electrician will have to cut all the preexisting wires any.
October 31st, 2008 on 11:03 am
Their called volt sticks or volt ticks They are Very safe and will do what you are asking