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...a open neutral?

<< Back to: Electrical Wiring FAQ (Part 1 of 2)

Question by woodman522003@yahoo.com
Submitted on 1/12/2004
Related FAQ: Electrical Wiring FAQ (Part 1 of 2)
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what is a open neutral?



Answer by MidSage
Submitted on 3/4/2004
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An open neutral simply means that neutral, or common wire is not connected somewhere.  If for example you test a outlet in a room, and the tester shows that you have an open neutral, Then somewhere along the circuit the neutral is not connected properly.  In rooms most outlets are connected in series to each other, so if you have an open neutral in one outlet, it can affect all the other outlets too.  To check for an open neutral just take a test light and check between the hot and neutral wires, if it lights up, then your fine.  If it doesn't then try testing between the hot and ground......if your tester lights up, then you have an open neutral.

 

Answer by jjsgranpa
Submitted on 5/6/2004
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I will differ with your terminology. The outlets in room are generally connected in PARALLEL not series. If connected in series, they wouldn't work.

 

Answer by Stavier
Submitted on 8/24/2004
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Why would you bother to post something if you have no idea what you are talking about, jjsgranpa?

Outlets in a room will work if connected in series.

Do you even know what "series" means?

 

Answer by Get a clue
Submitted on 6/14/2005
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Recepticles are wired in parrallel the tab you break to make it split circuit enables the power to run through in parrallel with the wire. An open neutral is a poor connection of your neurtal wire which may exist within your house wiring, panel or can be caused by a bad connection in the meter or transformer of the utility.


 

Answer by 2bits
Submitted on 6/27/2007
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Parallel if the line and load conductors are joined (hot to hot, "neutral" to "neutral")with a cap inside the device box and then connected to the device(usually not done unless there is a reason e.g. more than two like conductors need to be joined.)
Series if the line conductors are connected to one pair of binding posts on the device and the load conductors are joined to them using the other pair of binding posts on the device.  

 

Answer by 2bits
Submitted on 6/27/2007
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Parallel if the line and load conductors are joined (hot to hot, "neutral" to "neutral")with a cap inside the device box and then connected to the device(usually not done unless there is a reason e.g. more than two like conductors need to be joined.) Series if the line conductors are connected to one pair of binding posts on the device and the load conductors are electrically joined to them using the other pair of binding posts on the device.  

 

Answer by Ewaro
Submitted on 7/13/2007
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Ahh, but you can wire receptacles in series and parallel.  If you have an open neutral in one receptacle on a parallel circuit then it would show on the tester as open neutral on the plug with the problem and any and all in line in the direction away from the hot leg would show open neutral also and be dead receptacles if the main neutral line that the pigtails come off off is disconnected.  In Parallel circuits you use all pigtails except for the last receptacle.  So chances are a pigtail is not twisted right at the first plug with the open neutral test indication. If its a pigtail then that one receptacle would be bad and all the rest would still work.

On a Series Circuit having an open neutral would mean that a neutral wire was disconnected on a receptacle that would not work at all because the neutral wire would in essence be open and stop any return of current just as above but the plugs in line after that one in the direction going away from the feed would be dead no matter what because the wires are looped from plug to plug instead of in parallel where you come off the main neutral with a pigtail.
A pigtail makes an individual wire to hook the receptacle too. So only if the pigtail breaks between the main neutral it comes off off and before the receptacle then just that plug would be dead in parallel circuits, generally.

Hope this helps and if I am wrong then hope you learned something at least.

 

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