How to check Phase, Neutral and Ground of AC Wiring Using a Multimeter
I'm by no means an Electrical Engineer but from time to time I have to do your typical DC wiring and soldering. But AC is a completly different beast to me, since I rarely have to interact with it.
That's why this was done: so I can get this information quicker instead of burning stuff down and / or having 230V - or read that as 120V if you leave in 'Murica - rushing though my heart.
- With the Power Supply / Lamp / LIVE (BE EXTRA CAREFUL)
- Set the Multimeter to AC Volts
- Connect to 2 terminals
- If you connected Phase and Neutral = 230 Volts
- If you connected Phase and Earth = 230 Volts
- If you connected Neutral and Earth = 0 Volts
- So the same wire giving the 230 Volts reading will be the Phase (Live Wire)
- Now you should know which one is the Phase so
- Shut of Power Supply (SHUT IT OFF)
- Set meter to Ohms
- Connect between Earth and and another wire. If It reads 0 - or near - Ohms, that is Wire.