How To Add A Neutral Wire
Contents
- Why Do I Need a Neutral Wire?
- Two Methods to Add together a Neutral Wire
- Method 1 – Connecting Your Switch Box to an Existing Wire
- Method 2 – Adding a Brand-New Neutral Wire
- Cost of Adding a Neutral Wire
- Wrapping Upward
Need some aid adding a neutral wire to a light switch, outlet, or dwelling device? 1 of my near common calls relates to houses that come with old outlets and crave neutral wires. Well-nigh people do not understand the importance of a neutral wire. If the load is ideal, there is no need to add together a neutral wire. Just, in real life, having a balanced load is nearly impossible. If we consider that, adding a neutral wire is crucial.
So, below ill go through some steps to install a neutral wire.
In general, to add a neutral wire, you tin follow 2 different methods.
- Extend the neutral wire from the old light switch to the new one. This is a cheaper and simple method to follow.
- Or you tin install a neutral wire to all the switch boxes at dwelling. This process is quite painstaking, and you'll need good electrical noesis.
Depending on your situation, you can follow either one of them.
Why Do I Need a Neutral Wire?
Most modernistic outlets and electrical devices come with a neutral wire. But, you might observe some switch boxes that practise not accept a neutral wire. Adding a neutral wire might be the best option for that type of switch box. Y'all might be wondering why?
Well, that is an excellent question. If the load is ideal in your Air conditioning system, at that place is no need for a neutral wire. Practically, it is nearly incommunicable to have an ideal load. So, the circuit needs a path to deport the imbalance electric current. If you have a neutral wire, it volition human activity as the path for an imbalance current.
2 Methods to Add a Neutral Wire
Depending on your home electrical organisation, you might have to follow two unlike methods to install a neutral wire. Sometimes, the issue might lie with one or two switch boxes. Or sometimes, none of the switch boxes accept a neutral wire. Sometimes, the issue might lie with ane or two switch boxes. The starting time situation is much easier. Yous'll get a better idea when we talk about these ii situations in item.
Method i – Connecting Your Switch Box to an Existing Wire
This is a much easier method than the 2nd one. If but one of your switch boxes needs a neutral wire, you tin easily connect the neutral wire from the nearest switch box that already has a neutral wire. Follow these steps.
Step 1 – Find the Nearest Switch Box
First, find the nearest switch box that has a neutral wire. And so, measure the distance of the neutral wire (from the old switch to the new switch). Run a neutral wire from the old switch to the new switch.
Tip: If the two switch boxes are continued, you lot don't demand to run new conduits for the neutral wire. Use the old conduits.
Step 2 – Connect the Neutral Wire
Then, connect the neutral wire to the new switch box.
Follow the above diagram.
If needed, install conduits within the wall. Or apply the ceiling to run conduits.
Method 2 – Adding a Brand-New Neutral Wire
If none of the switch boxes have a neutral wire, y'all must bring the neutral wire from the main panel to the switch boxes.
But remember, the neutral line should go through all the electrical lines at your home. So, this is a complicated task. If you are not comfy with wiring, practice non try to practise this. Instead, hire an electrician. (ane)
In the case that you lot practice experience comfortable with DIY wiring, here are the steps I recommend you follow.
Footstep one – Cut Off the Power
First, remove the primary panel casing. And so, disconnect all the hot wires from the main panel. We are going to install the neutral wire to the breakers. So, cutting off the power is vital.
Step ii – Inspect the Principal Panel
Audit the main panel and choose the breaker you demand to install the neutral wire to.
Step iii – Install the Neutral Wire
After properly determining where it volition go, add the neutral wire. For this sit-in, I'm only showing 1 breaker.
Tip: Ordinarily, the neutral wires are white.
Step 4 – Mensurate the Distance
At present mensurate the distance from the panel to the switch, outlet, light bulbs, etc. Annotation it downwards. Then, buy the wires and conduits according to that distance.
Step v – Comport the Line According to the Diagram
Cheque out the higher up diagram. Apply it to properly fix your installation.
Start, run the neutral wire from the console to the outlet and the light bulb. Then, run the neutral wire from the outlet to the switch.
You might take to damage the wall and run conduits to properly install the neutral wire. In some locations, y'all can run the neutral wire through the old conduits.
Tip: The above diagram will take more hot wires for a three-phase system.
Pace 6 – Repeat
Repeat the same process for every switch that needs a neutral wire.
Keep in heed: In the above diagram, at that place is no ground wire. Presume the footing wire is already installed. Adding another wire to the above diagram might confuse y'all.
Price of Adding a Neutral Wire
Installing a neutral wire takes a lot of time and effort, given that you lot programme to complete it every bit a DIY project. Even though the above steps can help yous with the installation to some degree, the actual job is much harder than one might call up. And so if yous are not upwards to the job, don't hesitate to hire an experienced electrician. For two switches, an electrician will accuse $l to $100. Sometimes, information technology will be much higher. So, retrieve to get an estimate before starting the project. (ii)
Wrapping Up
Whether you choose method one or method ii, running conduits through walls takes more than fourth dimension and effort since you lot have to drill the wall. So, if you can run the neutral wire on the ceiling, it volition be much easier. Instead of connecting the outlet and the switch, try the light seedling and the switch for a neutral connection.
Take a look at some of our related articles below.
- How to identify neutral wire with multimeter
- How to test an electrical outlet with a multimeter
- How to test a calorie-free switch with a multimeter
References
(1) hire an electrician – https://www.forbes.com/advisor/home-comeback/how-to-hire-an-electrician/
(2) DIY project – https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/x-all-time-sites-for-diy-projects-151234
Video References
Ane Hr Smart Dwelling
The Engineering Mindset
Ready It With Zim
CREATIVE CRAMBO
The Splendid Laborer
Source: https://toolsweek.com/how-to-install-a-neutral-wire/
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