I notice that theyre usually associated with two poles
Both the hot and the neutral comprise the circuit for a 120 volt circuit. In a 240 volt circuit, the two hot wires carry current and the neutral doesn't, unless the device has both 120 and 240 volt devices associated with the main device. The above statement is relative to the USA normal household service. This service is a split-phase service from the secondary of a 120/240 volt system. The neutral (center tap of the secondary) is grounded. The neutral is a conductor just as the hot wires are. The hot wires are designated 'hot' because they are not grounded. If you touch one of the hot wires while simultaneously touching something that's grounded (including yourself), you will receive an electrical shock, sometimes resulting in death. The neutral, being grounded, will see a volt or two potential difference between the neutral and ground. This is more pronounced, if the circuit is carrying a load. If the load in your home is completely balanced on both hot wires, the neutral will carry no current between the circuit breaker panel and the transformer. The neutral and the hot wire of a circuit changes polarity 120 times per second. TexMav
Ok from the terminology you use I think you are american I am from the uk so i may use different terms Your hot wire/Live wire is the input to the Appliance and the neutral is the outgoing feed so hot in from the power Company and neutral is the return back to the electric company
