I need help identifying hot and neutral feed wires for sub panel installation

installationsubpanel

I am installing a sub panel in my garage this weekend. The previous owner had a subpanel in the same location, but when they moved they took the panel with them.

The wires from the mains panel in the house to the garage are still there, but since they are all black (except for the ground, obviously), I am not sure which is neutral and which 2 are hot.

Is there a way to test these wires without hooking them up to a grounded panel first? They are connected to the mains via a 220v 100A breaker.

I have done quite a few breaker installations over the years, and have installed many romex-fed outlets, but this is a new situation for me. Any help is appreciated!

Best Answer

Voltage

If the wires are hooked up in the main panel, then all you'll need is a multimeter/voltmeter.

  • Carefully position the wires so that there's no chance of them touching each other, or anything else.
  • Turn on the breaker in the main panel.
  • Carefully measure the voltage between each set of wires.
  • Turn the breaker back off.

When measuring voltage between the two ungrounded (hot) conductors, you'll measure about 240 volts. When measuring between either ungrounded (hot) conductor and the grounded (neutral), you'll measure about 120 volts.

Continuity

Alternatively, if you're not comfortable working with live wires (and really, who is).

  • Make sure the breaker in the main panel is OFF.
  • Using a multimeter set to measure resistance or continuity, check for resistance/continuity between the grounding conductor and the other wires.

You'll measure infinite resistance (or open) between the grounding and ungrounded (hot) conductors, but you'll measure a small resistance (or closed) when measuring between the grounding and grounded (neutral) conductor.

Visual inspection

Examine the wires carefully. If they are part of a cable assembly, one of the wires may have stripes on the insulation or some other markings. If these are individual wires, there's likely no markings unless the installer marked them with paint or tape.


Once you find the grounded (neutral), mark it with white paint or white electrical tape.