In the context of mains power, and wiring a light and switch. I thought I understood it, but what I'm thinking of I believe is something else called a "switch leg". Disclaimer: I'm a beginner with electrical.
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
4
-
\$\begingroup\$ Is this related to mains wiring, such as wiring a switch to turn on a lamp? \$\endgroup\$– JustmeAug 25, 2020 at 4:41
-
\$\begingroup\$ Please provide context. In mains wiring when one lead is switched it should be the "PHase" lead. If both leads are switched then P & N are switched and you have a switched neutral. If ONLY Neutral is switched the powered device "floats" at phase voltage and 'there can be problems". | Switching either P or N is switched leg switching. \$\endgroup\$– Russell McMahon ♦Aug 25, 2020 at 5:14
-
1\$\begingroup\$ We need more context. Switching of neutral also comes into play with automatic transfer switches. If you have a simple standby generator at your house, usually you don't switch neutral and don't bond neutral to GND inside the generator. But if you do switch neutral, then you MUST bond neutral to ground inside the generator (and properly earth ground it). \$\endgroup\$– user57037Aug 25, 2020 at 7:50
-
\$\begingroup\$ @Justme ya that is what I'm referring to, sorry for lack of context. \$\endgroup\$– jordanAug 25, 2020 at 15:06
Add a comment
|
4 Answers
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
4
General appliance wiring looks like this:
This is "switched Live" and is the preferred way to do it because once you switch it off, the appliance is not connected to high voltage. It's safe for servicing without risk of a shock.
In case you put the switch on the neutral line instead of live, that case becomes "switched neutral" as shown below:
In this case, you need to be extra careful while servicing the appliance. Even if the switch is turned off, the appliance will get a high voltage and there is a risk of electrical shock. Make sure you turn the live MCB off before servicing to avoid a shock.
answered Aug 25, 2020 at 7:30
-
2\$\begingroup\$ This is not allowed by the electric code as far as I know. \$\endgroup\$ Aug 25, 2020 at 7:45
-
10\$\begingroup\$ @mkeith Yes, switching only the neutral is generally forbidden. Switching both phase and neutral together is generally allowed and in some countries mandated. \$\endgroup\$ Aug 25, 2020 at 8:10
-
1\$\begingroup\$ This also does accidentally happen in cases of do-it-yourself wiring... My house is a prime example. \$\endgroup\$ Aug 25, 2020 at 17:46
-
1\$\begingroup\$ A lot of Autos did this. But for mains wiring if Megger testing is anticipated you may have a switch on both lines for a de facto double pole isolation. Storage hot water, say. I have also seen (but will not name) IP Power Boards that switched neutral, presumably to keep active off the motherboard. \$\endgroup\$– mckenzmAug 26, 2020 at 3:05
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
1
It's a switch in the neutral wire, instead of the hot/live/phase wire.
It is generally considered to be a bad thing, as turning the switch off turns off the appliance, but there is still a live feed to the appliance. This presents a shock risk to anybody replacing lamps or servicing an appliance.
-
3\$\begingroup\$ However, as part of a double pole switched system, i.e. where live is also switched, it is considered a good thing. It can protect against faults where "Neutral" actually becomes live. \$\endgroup\$– user16324Aug 25, 2020 at 12:50
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
1
Some other answers have very clearly, with nice diagrams, explained the what but not really the why.
A typical lighting fixture (or other appliance in US 120V design) has 3 connections:
- Hot
- Neutral
- Ground
The important thing is that ground and neutral are bonded in the main panel. That means that, if everything is wired correctly, you could stick a wet finger from one hand on neutral and a wet finger from the other hand on ground and have no problems whatsoever. Of course, this is highly NOT RECOMMENDED, but the point is that the safety design allows for it.
If hot is switched then at the device hot is "nothing" and neutral and ground are "the same", so shorting everything together (with your hand or a screwdriver or whatever) will have no effect.
If only neutral is switched then at the device neutral is "nothing" but hot and ground are 120V apart. Meaning that if you short everything together with a screwdriver then you will get sparks. And if you short everything together with your hand then you will get something in the range of:
- Tingle - bad but no harm
- Ouch - pull hand away, little harm
- Yikes - pull hand away, fall off ladder, sprain or break something
- Aghh!!!! - pull hand away, fall off ladder, major injury
- #()$@)$#A - can't pull hand away....
So switching hot instead of neutral is a really important thing.
All that being said, the safest thing for anything more than just "change a light bulb" is always to flip the breaker or remove the fuse so that you not only are sure to have hot "off" but also avoid someone coming in to the room where you are working and saying "oh it seems dark, let me turn on the light so you can see what you are doing", resulting in one of the items listed above.
In fact, there are additional requirements that for hardwired loads in certain circumstances, there has to be a way to lock out the breaker so that if someone is working in one location and flips the breaker in a different room that controls the circuit, nobody can accidentally reset the breaker. But such extremes are not normally needed for "change a light bulb on a circuit with a switch in sight".
answered Aug 25, 2020 at 19:42
-
2\$\begingroup\$ I've occasionally found switches that act on both legs at the same time, effectively protecting the user. If the plug can be inserted into the wall in two directions (ie its not polarised) then a double-pole switch that controls both legs, is a good idea. \$\endgroup\$– CriggieAug 26, 2020 at 2:06
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
I confirm it is a switch on the neutral leg of a circuit and not the 110 positive or negative alongside it. I replaced a doorbell button in Brazil and still nothing worked. I tested then grabbed both sides of the wire and felt no shock, so figured the wiring was dead. An engineer hooked a continuity tester to the bell side and showed the switch was working but the dingdong was broken. Replaced the dingdong and now it works. I had never seen a switch on the neutral leg. I'm not recommending my jaded methods and recommend equipment testing both ends (like I didn't) before jumping to conclusions.
