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The Curious Bag
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Using words to refer to specific conventions makes it easier for one worker to talk to another or for a manufacturing company to specify instructions. "Line" and "load" are words used in describing how to wire electrical devices.
Line
In wiring, "line" refers the power source. This is where the wires coming from the circuit breaker panel are connected.
Load
"Load" refers to the equipment being connected. This is where the wires are connected to the electrical device itself.
Example
A baseboard heater has a thermostat. The wires that go from the thermostat to the circuit panel are "line" wires. The wires from the thermostat to the heater are the "load" wires.
Terminals
Terminals sometimes can be labeled "line" and "load." On a standard house light switch, such labels are not required. However, on a central air conditioner disconnect, the terminals are labeled.
Terminal Screw Colors
Brass-colored terminals connect to colored hot wires. Silver-colored terminals connect to white neutral wires. Green terminals connect to green or bare ground wires.
Source:
Wiring Simplified, 40th Edition; Richter, Schwan, Hartwell; 2002
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