What Is Load on a Switch

In the electrical trades, the terms “line” and “load” are shorthand words that refer to the wires that deliver power from the source to a device (line), vs. those that carry power onward to other devices further along the circuit (load).

What is load and line on a switch?

Line is the wire going from a current source into a switch. It’s upstream of the switched device(s). Line is always hot. Load is the wire going from the switch to the device.

What does load wire mean?

While load wires are wires that transmit electricity from the electrical device to other devices within the building, load wires are also known as outgoing or downstream wires. Load wires comprise hot, neutral, and ground wires similar to line wires.