Why is the switch connected to the neutral wire?



The switch must be placed in live wire to maintain the body of appliance at zero potential in the switch off position and if the switch is kept in neutral wire, then the body of the appliance to keep the body at infinite potential in the switch on position.

Should switch be connected to live or neutral?

live wire

A switch or a fuse in an electrical circuit is always connected to the live wire so that the socket or appliance is not live when switched off.

Why should the switch always be in the live wire rather than the neutral?





The switch should always be connected to the live wire so that when it is off, no current flows through the appliance. If it is connected to the neutral wire, the circuit always remains on even when it is off.

Why are switches and fuse always installed on phase wire not in neutral wire?

Fuse should be connected to live / phase wire of circuit. If it is connected to neutral wire, the fuse will melt when excess current flow, but the appliance will still be connected to high potential through live wire. Thus, if a person touches the appliance, he receives shock.

What happens if you connect live wire to neutral?

When live wire comes in contact with the neutral wire, then the insulation of wires is damaged or there is a fault in the appliance. In such a situation, the current in the circuit abruptly increases. This is known as short circuiting.

Which wire should be connected to switch?



live wire



To which of the three connecting wires in a household circuit should the switch be connected? Switch should be connected to the live wire.

Can a switch work without a neutral wire?

Absolutely! Even if you have a smart switch no neutral, you can install it. That’s because most modern smart switch brands don’t require a neutral wire. Older homes typically don’t have a visible neutral wire in the wall socket.

Why is neutral always grounded?

The neutral wire acts as a return conductor for current flow in the electrical circuit. It completes the AC circuit. It carries the return current back to the source of electricity i.e. transformer. This point is earthed.

Is the neutral wire always live?

The neutral will always become live and carry current once a circuit is made, as in a load such as a light bulb is placed across the live and neutral then the current will flow through the bulb making the neutral to carry current.

Should switches be on positive or negative?



According to the research I’ve done, it is safer to place a switch on the positive side of a voltage source: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/chpt-3/safe-practices/

What happens if you cross hot and neutral wires?

For example, the metal socket of a lamp connects to the neutral wire and should not give you a shock with proper wiring. With reverse polarity, the hot wire feeds electricity into the socket and you’ll get zapped if you touch it.

Why circuit breakers are never placed on the neutral?

The result of interrupting a circuit only on its neutral or “return” path could be a fire, shock, or even death by electrocution. This unsafe condition could occur in the fuse panel shown above because the hot and neutral fuses are physically separate, independent devices.

Does it matter which way a switch is wired?

Because the switch terminals are interchangeable, it doesn’t matter which wire you put on each.

Should neutral carry voltage?




Quote from video:

Why fuse and switch is always connected to the positive wire?

A fuse wire is always connected to the live wire so that if excessive current flows through the live wire, then fuse wire melts itself and prevents the appliance from damage.

What happens if you wire live and neutral wrong in a light switch?

There would be a shock hazard, and some devices might not work correctly. Depending on where exactly the wires are flipped, ground fault detecting circuit breakers may become ineffective. All around, this is a bad idea. Save this answer.

Why should a switch be connected in the phase line only?

Phase wire is always connected to the switch/fuse or the switch/fuse should always be connected in the phase wire because there is high voltage in the phase wire and if somehow insulation is broken then phase wire connection should immediately be broken to prevent from any shocks.

Why do you have to bond the neutral and the ground wire in the main panel?

The Answer:



Neutral-to-ground bond is needed to properly operate the circuit breakers. Over Current Protection Devices (OCPD) such as circuit breakers and fuses actually require a short and intense INCREASE in electrical current (a short) in order to detect the fault and cut the circuit off.

Why don’t you need a neutral on 3 phase?



In single-phase, loads the neutral wire provides the return path for the current, and in balanced 3 phase loads, because they satisfy the above criteria, the currents enter and return through lines creating 0A of out of balance current. So, there is no need for a neutral wire.