This basically installs a switch (similar to a light switch that makes a break in the circuit should an appliance or device short circuit or overload and backfired down your wiring toward the panel.

Which wires go to line and load?

Load Wire – Generally connected to the top half of your switch. If the wire is coming from the top of the switch box, it is likely your load wire. Line Wire – Generally connected to the bottom half of your switch. In some cases, line wires are marked with “line”, “pwr”, or a lightning bolt symbol.

Can line and load be connected together?





Connecting for the line and the load terminals (using two electrical cables or two sets of pigtail wires) provides GFCI protection for that outlet as well as for other standard outlets located downstream on the same circuit.

What happens if you wire load and line backwards?


Quote from Youtube video: When line and load are reversed at a newer gfci outlet the behavior is pretty simple you'll be able to trip the gfci. But it won't reset. With older gfcis. The outlet will trip but the outlet remains.

Does the hot wire go on line or load?

Line Connection



The circuit’s hot wire (typically colored black or red) connects to the black or brass-colored screw terminal marked LINE. The white neutral wire connects to the silver-colored screw terminal marked LINE.

Can line and load be switched?

You could mix up load and line on a GFCI switch and all your daisy-chained outlets would still work, but you wouldn’t get the protection from electrocution.

Which wire is hot when both are black?





Here’s a rundown of electrical wires: The black wire is the “hot” wire, it carries the electricity from the breaker panel into the switch or light source. The white wire is the “neutral” wire, it takes any unused electricity and current and sends it back to the breaker panel.

Is the black wire load or line?

So, what color is the load wire? Load wires are mostly black, but red can also be used as a secondary load wire. They are also connected to the switch’s top half, while line wires are connected to the switch’s bottom half.

How can you tell which wire is hot and which is neutral?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: If you don't get a voltage reading the wire is neutral. If you get a reading the wire is hot you can also use color coding to identify.

How can you tell which wire is hot without a tester?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: We're gonna put our black probe on that middle wire and then we're gonna touch the red probe. To one of the wires. Now the wire if it gives voltage that's the hot wire.

What happens if you connect line to load?



If you mistakenly connect the LINE wires to the LOAD terminals, the GFCI will not reset and will not provide power to either the GFCI receptacle face or any receptacles fed from the GFCI.

Does line and load matter on single pole switch?

Unless the new dimmer is specifically marked with LINE and LOAD or similar, it doesn’t matter which wire goes to which screw/pigtail in a simple two wire switch or dimmer. Since your new switch can be used as a three way, the instructions should say which screw should not be used.

Are line and load wires the same?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Terminals. Now this is very simple concept but let's review and that is the line terminals are used for power that is coming in to your electrical. Box so this would be providing power to this 15 amp

Which wire is hot when both are same color?



In most modern fixtures the neutral wire will be white and the hot wire is red or black. In some types of fixtures, both wires will be the same color. In this case, the neutral wire is always identified by some means. In some cases, there will be small writing on the wiring case.

What happens if you wire a light switch backwards?

But here’s the catch: If you connect the circuit wires to the wrong terminals on an outlet, the outlet will still work, but the polarity will be backward. When this happens, a lamp, for example, will have its bulb socket sleeve energized rather than the little tab inside the socket.

What does neutral line and load mean?

The neutral line refers to the part of the distribution grid that returns the power that left the transmission lines through a hot line or phase line to do work on an electrical load.

Does neutral wire have power?

To summarize: the hot wire carries electricity from the power supply and takes it to the load (lightbulb). Neutral wires take the used electricity from the load and bring it back to the power supply.

Can the neutral wire shock you?



If you touch the neutral wire in a live circuit, whether it be a lamp, an appliance or something else, it is the same as touching the active wire. It is only “safe” to touch the neutral wire when there is no current flowing, just as it is “safe” to touch the earth wire (when one exists). That is, “safe” is relative.