The line and neutral are not color coded in this power cord. Unfortunately I cut the physically damaged 3-prong plug off so no one would use the machine until I bought a replacement. I can't really get inside to see what's going where. The Earth ground has continuity to the metal chassis. Any ideas to find out which is hot and which is neutral.

 

Power cord to... what???

 

If only one side is switched, that will be the hot.

 

Find the plug you cut off.

 

If only one side is switched, that will be the hot.

And if there is no switch or both sides are switched, then it likely doesn't make any difference which is connected to hot and which to neutral.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but that looks like a 3 prong 240v cord... of so, 2 of them will just about match ohmed out to chassis while one of them will be 0±10 with good leads. The ones way off is your ground or neutral while the other 2 are hot. If its 120V and the appliance is one of the cheapos, ground and neutral are bonded, should read 0±10. While the other will have a higher resistance to the other two. If you really want to me sure and you know how to do it safely, open up the power supply on the appliance, see which wore goes where and follow traces or look for marking. Don't go off of color and don't go off of what's switched. Alot of manufactures switch from neutral or ground when they shouldn't.

 

Show us the appliance in question and also a sharper photo of the writing on the cable.

 

When testing at the outlets in my home in Thailand, Line-to-ground is approximately what is "advertised", here it is 240 VAC while Neutral is just a few volts (IR drop on the wire leading back to the pole transformer and earth connection.

 

It's a thru the wall air conditioner and it is 120 VAC. Yes I regret throwing out the broken plug! Thanks

 

Show us the appliance in question and also a sharper photo of the writing on the cable.

I'm not near the appliance now. But the cord said middle conductor for grounding only.

 

https://electrouniversity.com/how-to-identify-wires-on-lamp-cord/
Typically - BUT NOT SPECIFICALLY - AND NOT ALWAYS - the neutral wire has a rib or ridges along the side. I've seen black wires where the neutral wire had white painted stripes.

In the picture above you can see which is the neutral wire on the plug. It's the top prong. It's wider than the hot (or live) wire. While the picture doesn't do justice, you should be able to see there is a ridge along the same side, indicating the neutral wire is the one with ridges. The hot side will be smooth.

Somewhere around here I have a dryer power cord. I'm sure its neutral has ridges on the side. If I can find it quickly I'll post a picture.

 

https://electrouniversity.com/how-to-identify-wires-on-lamp-cord/
Typically - BUT NOT SPECIFICALLY - AND NOT ALWAYS - the neutral wire has a rib or ridges along the side. I've seen black wires where the neutral wire had white painted stripes.
View attachment 347457
In the picture above you can see which is the neutral wire on the plug. It's the top prong. It's wider than the hot (or live) wire. While the picture doesn't do justice, you should be able to see there is a ridge along the same side, indicating the neutral wire is the one with ridges. The hot side will be smooth.

Somewhere around here I have a dryer power cord. I'm sure its neutral has ridges on the side. If I can find it quickly I'll post a picture.

It's all smooth Tony, it's not like zip cord.

 

I'm assuming you cut the plug end off. However, in the spirit of answering the question regarding use of a meter, in desperate situations I'd plug the cord in to a live outlet. Then I'd test each wire to a KNOWN ground. That would give you a clear indication of which is the hot. It's the one with voltage between the wire and a known ground.

BE ADVISED - THIS IS AN UNSAFE PRACTICE. I said if I wrecked in a desperate situation this is what I'd do. But again, I think you've cut the plug off.

 

I'm assuming you cut the plug end off. However, in the spirit of answering the question regarding use of a meter, in desperate situations I'd plug the cord in to a live outlet. Then I'd test each wire to a KNOWN ground. That would give you a clear indication of which is the hot. It's the one with voltage between the wire and a known ground.

BE ADVISED - THIS IS AN UNSAFE PRACTICE. I said if I wrecked in a desperate situation this is what I'd do. But again, I think you've cut the plug off.

Tony the plug was unsafe, the owner was afraid her kids might plug it in so I cut it off it got discarded couple days later when I came back with the new plug I have no reference.

 

If the appliance was correctly wired, the LINE wire should be connected to a fuse and then the power switch.

 

I'm not near the appliance now. But the cord said middle conductor for grounding only.

Yes, GRN & Yellow is normally the earth ground, just check on the appliance side to see where the SW wire is coinnected to, or relay/Contactor hot (live) conductor .
Should be easy on examing the internal wiring to identify the L & N. !

 

If the appliance was correctly wired, the LINE wire should be connected to a fuse and then the power switch.

Thanks guys. I can't get inside the unit at all. Not with mirrors not with a flashlight so I was just wondering I know the wire ultimately goes to a compressor and a circuit board if something could be determined with a meter. The Earth ground has good continuity to the metal chassis. Both of the other wires are isolated from it.

 

Both of the other wires are isolated from it.

That is correct for most jurisdictions, there should normally be no contact between Earth and N inside the appliance.

 

I know the wire ultimately goes to a compressor and a circuit board if something could be determined with a meter.

Don't offhand see how you could.
But as I noted, it's not likely to make a difference which way you connect it.

 

Connect the cable with the writing on the side to LINE (to the narrow prong, copper color).
Connect N to the wide prong, labeled W in the plug diagram, the screw is usually silver colored.