What is the neutral conductor called in the NEC?

grounding
According to the terminology in the CEC and NEC, the “grounding” conductor is for the safety ground, i.e., the green or bare or green with a yellow stripe wire. The word “neutral” is reserved for the white when you have a circuit with more than one “hot” wire.

What conductor in a circuit is permitted to be marked with a color of white or gray?

(a) Grounded Conductors. Insulated conductors of No. 6 or smaller, intended for use as grounded conductors of circuits, shall have an outer identification of a white or natural gray color.

Can multiple neutral conductors be terminated in a panelboard termination?

C: Multiple grounded neutral conductors are permitted to share the same terminal. Each grounded conductor shall terminate within the panelboard in an individual terminal that is not also used for another conductor.

What color is an ungrounded conductors permitted to be use the NEC as a reference?

Ungrounded conductors can both be black, no extra identification is needed. Some areas will allow the stripe on the neutral of URD cable as identification, although it does not meet the letter of the NEC.

Is neutral grounded or grounding?

Grounding. The terms grounded and grounding are very similar, but their meanings are quite different. In any electrical circuit, there are two wires needed to complete any circuit. One is called the “hot wire” and the other is called “neutral” or “grounded”.

Does the NEC require a neutral wire?

Neutrals. When wiring lighting circuits supplied by a grounded general-purpose branch circuit, the 2011 NEC now requires you to provide a neutral conductor at nearly every switch point [404.2(C)]. The purpose for this is to complete a circuit path for electronic lighting control devices, such as occupancy sensors.

How do you identify a neutral conductor?

Neutral conductors must be insulated, and must be identified by an insulation color of white, gray or any color (except green) with three or more white or gray stripes.

When Neutral is the 120v circuit the neutral is considered to be a current-carrying conductor?

However, Section 310.15(E) states that the white grounded (neutral) conductor IS a current-carrying conductor if it carries all of the current (amps) in the circuit, such as a two-wire 120-volt circuit serving a lighting fixture.

Is neutral a ground?

Neutral is a circuit conductor that normally completes the circuit back to the source. Neutral is usually connected to ground (earth) at the main electrical panel, street drop, or meter, and also at the final step-down transformer of the supply.

Can neutral and ground be on the same lug?

Neutral (white wire) and equipment grounding conductors (bare wire) terminate under the same lug. An individual terminal should be provided for the connection of each branch-circuit neutral conductor. When the neutral is disconnected, the objective is to still have the equipment ground connected.

What three colors are ungrounded conductors not permitted to be?

The white conductor within a cable can be used for the ungrounded conductor if permanently reidentified at each location where the conductor is visible to indicate its use as an ungrounded conductor. Identification must encircle the insulation and must be a color other than white, gray, or green.

Is a grounding conductor a neutral?

In any electrical circuit, there are two wires needed to complete any circuit. Sometimes the neutral wire is referred to as a grounded wire. It is most correctly referred to as a “grounded neutral conductor,” but most times referred to as “the neutral” or “the ground wire”.

Are grounding conductors grounded conductors by the NEC?

The new Informational Note reinforces for electricians that Grounding Conductors and Grounded Conductors are both grounded. And that in spite of this, Grounding Conductors are not considered Grounded Conductors by the NEC.

Is there an exception to the NEC code for electrical wiring?

There are exceptions to this NEC code, but if the walls are currently open anyway, don’t make the next person fish in a wire. Do it right and make sure there’s a neutral wire in the box.

Can a grounded conductor be disconnected from a switch?

Grounded conductors are specifically covered in 404.2 (B), which states switches or circuit breakers shall not disconnect the grounded conductor of a circuit.

What size circuit breaker do I need for a neutral wire?

Neutral conductors supplying balanced loads do not have to be counted. Note: Minimum Circuit size is #12 with 20 Amp CB. Circuit Breaker Size 2. Maximum loading of any circuit breaker is 80\% of rating for non-motor loads with exceptions as noted below.