How to distinguish the neutral wire from the live wire with a digital multimeter?
1. First, check whether the digital multimeter is in good condition. Insert the black test lead into the "com" terminal and the red test lead into the "v/R" terminal to complete the preparatory work.
2. Set the gear to AC 500V. Ground the black test lead (or it can be in contact with any object that conducts electricity to the ground). Let the red test lead touch the two wires respectively. If the number on the multimeter changes, the wire with a voltage of about 220 volts displayed is the live wire, and the other one is the neutral wire.
3. Wrap the wire of the black test lead around your hand three times. Remember not to touch the test lead with your hand. Let the red test lead touch the two wires respectively. The wire that causes the number on the multimeter to change is the live wire, and the other one is the neutral wire. (A little tip: Generally, when one end of the digital multimeter is left hanging in the air and the other end touches the wire, if there is a slight digital display, it indicates that it is the live wire; if not, it is the neutral wire.)
In short, it is so easy to measure the neutral wire and the live wire. Then, let's talk about how to distinguish the live wire, the ground wire, and the neutral wire.
4. Set the digital multimeter to the AC voltage range of 500V. First, ground one of the test leads, and then connect the other test lead to one of the remaining wires. If the voltage displayed is around 180-230V, then it is the live wire. Then use this test lead to measure the other wire. If the voltage is around several tens of volts, then it is the neutral wire. If there is only a change of several volts or no change at all, this wire is the ground wire.
5. Distinguish them by color. According to national regulations, yellow-green-red wires are phase wires, the blue wire is the neutral wire, and the yellow-green two-color wire is the ground wire.
