Neutral wire in main panel

Why? Doesn't the feeder breaker snap off of the busbar? Just pull out the breaker, wire to the subpanel, then snap the breaker back into the main panel. You might check for shorts first, of course, with a meter.

I never thought of that but what about the neutral that is not connected to the breaker?

And what does that neutral connect with? Hint, it should be a bare copper wire.

Your 120/240 V service is coming from a transformer out on a pole somewhere, that has a secondary which is center tapped. The center tap is your neutral connection, that center tap is also connected to a ground rod at the pole which has the purpose of making neutral

0 volts in respect to ground and either of your hot legs at 120v in respect to ground.

If you open the main breaker, the neutral should be zero volt. You should have a meter that can verify if a line is engergized or not.

Wes

-- "Additionally as a security officer, I carry a gun to protect government officials but my life isn't worth protecting at home in their eyes." Dick Anthony Heller

You should have some basic understanding before doing this type of work and I don't think usenet is the best place to get it.

Indeed! "...is there any voltage at the neutral wire?" - what kind of dumb ass question is that!? Scary, just plain scary.

I've been tolerant & held my tongue while others have said "You shouldn't be doing this", but this is too much. Stryed: you should not be doing this.

Bob