handyman99

I'm trying to add an outlet from 2 wires that are just hanging out of the wall. I followed the wires to the attic and only one wire goes to the attic. The other wire went somewhere else.

I tested the one of the wires and found out that it's either a ground or a neutral. How do I find out for sure if this is a "ground" or "neutral". If it's a neutral, then this outlet I'm trying to add is almost complete. I will just need to run a hot wire to the wire in the attic. However, If it's a ground then I will need to run a new romex.

(PS. I posted the same question on DIY and the administrator there closed my thread and instructed me to go to this website.)

JumboJack

Oh boy.....

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oldfrt

I hope this is on your own house!

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handyman99

I'm living in the house.

oldfrt

Rent or own?

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handyman99

It's not my place. However, the owner is paying me to do this. I'm asking for help to make sure I'm doing it correctly.

So how do I know if it's a neutral or ground wire?

oldfrt

Then hire a professional!!!!!!

You will be responsible for any problems and could face legal retribution.

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ChrWright

Is this knob and tube?

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Celtic

Where is the closest fire hydrant?

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Teetorbilt

Your trade is "Plumber". I would suggest hiring an electrician. Two wires coming from different areas would be a serious bell-ringer for me.

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JumboJack

Maybe you're on to something..They might be the door bell wires...

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Dustyrose

You do know that electricity is a dangerous thing. Right? You should probably tell your landlord to hire a professional.

What ya gonna do when this place goes into flames at 2am when your happy a$$ is asleep?

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handyman99

A professional will not do this job. That's the reason I got hired. The electrical in this house is not Code Compliant. A electrician will only rewire the whole house at some $5,000.

Can you please help me and let me know how to know if it's a neutral or ground?

JumboJack

If you don't know how to figure this out you should not go near electrical work..This is pretty basic stuff and the fact you don't have a clue should be a wake up call.

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handyman99

I replaced a whole circuit breaker. I've worked on electrical for some 20 years. So I have some knowledge.

A professional will not take this job. The wiring in this house is not code complaint. Please help.

How do I know if the wire is neutral or ground?

ChrWright

There's a reason for that. You have got to be F-ing kidding me.

Do you know how many people die in house fires every year because of that kind of sh**??????????

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handyman99

I'm sure it's not the doorbell wire. The doorbell works fine. Also, the door bell is usually thinner wires. These two wires are electrical for sure.

JumboJack

WOW!!! A whole circuit breaker!!??
20 years and you don't know how to identify wires???

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handyman99

No, I'm serious. This is a duplex, that at one point was one house, now it's a duplex again. So the electrical was changed from 2 meters, to one meter, and now back to 2 meters.

So can you help me. How do I find out if this wire is neutral or ground?

JumboJack

I am so glad I was not drinking anything when I read that because it would have most definitely shot out my nose!

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"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money."