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    TerryNelson1946's Avatar
    TerryNelson1946 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Sep 25, 2014, 01:25 PM
    Connecting a hot wire to a ground wire ? What happens?
    I have 2 unidentified wires in the wall, also black and white, the plug is working
    How do I tell if any are ground wires?
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
    Uber Member
    		  
    #2

    Sep 25, 2014, 01:32 PM
    Hot to ground will immediately trip breaker or blow fuse. The black and white could be hot and neutral or part of a switch loop for a switched outlet. Do you have a VOM or a neon tester and can you test for voltage? Any black tape or black marking on the white?
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
    		  
    #3

    Sep 25, 2014, 10:03 PM
    Probably be better to use a no contact voltage sensor. If the black and white are hot and neutral a volt meter will show voltage. If the black and white wires are a switch loop, meter will not show voltage. Volt sensor will show voltage regardless.
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