Was called to troubleshoot a fan/light issue in a home buit in 2013 earlier this week and came upon a mystery neutral in the attac. A single white 12ga. conductor running between one of the 4 can lights and the fan/light box in the living room ceiling. Only cable in the fan/light box is a 12/3 that runs down to separate switches for the fan and the light. I admit it, I'm stumped, never seen this before. Any ideas on what this mystery neutral is doing up there and if ok to simply remove it ? Maybe it's for a future smart swithch for the fan ? Thanks for all help.
Mystery Neutral
- Thread starter RickGram
- Start date
- Status
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Someone's solution to a lost neutral that they couldn't find the problem location or didn't think they wanted to go through what was necessary to replace a damaged cable?
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
At least they used white.
Have your supervisor advise you. This sounds like it's above your head and the answers you get here may be missing some key information.
Just because it's white doesn't mean it's a neutral for one.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
I missed the ‘apprentice electrician’ information.
Thanks kwired - Yes, that's what I suspected but wanted to run it by you all.
I was back out there yesterday briefly and verified the lost neutral is on the can lights, which are on a 4-way (that is also not functioning properly at this point), so I'll pull those switches tomorrow to see if it's in one of the boxes and then get the 4-way working properly as well.
Will report back in tomorrow.
Thanks roger.
I ran it by him yesterday after stopping back out there briefly to verify if it's the cans or the fan/light (it's the cans) and he also thinks it's a lost neutral. The cans are on a 4-way so I'm heading back out there tomorrow to open those boxes to see if I can find it.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
The next question is did the 4 way and 3 ways ever work properly? That should help with those.
Thanks Tom - I will be sure to ask the homeowners tomorrow and let you all know.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
You could use a clamp-on ammeter (and a helper flipping switches) to determine which load is using the wire.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
In case you haven't had the experience, open neutrals can give quite a shock. 120 is still 120.
Thanks so much Tom.
Yes, I'm aware of the shock danger of an open neutral and will be very careful as I make my way through this issue. I haven't been shocked yet but all I've been doing for the most part is drilling holes and pulling wire (but I'm not complaining).
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