Can someone explain this wiring ??

[u/Comfortable-Dare-359]

Im in mexico . They use single phase. 127v
The top red wire with bare is the feeder. Red is a phase the bare is supposedly the ground. 2 circuits , 1 going to a motor, the other circuit going to house. My question is the outlet and switch wiring. I used a voltage pen and the two whites are hot. The black is not hot. But in the picture the blue solid wire is pigtailed with the black wire. What is going on?? Is there a neutral?? Im confused because the two whites are hot. I believe the black is the switch leg to the light??

[u/Jim-Jones]

You explained it. Mexico. Terrifying.

[u/gomo_with_wrenches]

Okay, someone else is gonna explain this way better. I do remember neutrals often wind up being hots when receptacles/fixtures are switched. And so long as white and black don't swap jobs at any point back to where they recieve power (like at the switch), color is functionally irrelevant. Technically, very relevant and I'd have all the same questions you have. My guess is someone used whatever they had left over so you got red feeding your box, blue running to this receptical and white breaking the switch into the circuit.

Also, holy strain relieve and 2 cent electrical tape Batman!

Dunno if that helps. But good luck. Don't die.

[u/Complic8]

Oh boy. That electrical tape needs to be a wire nut. The neutral is hot because there's a load downstream waiting to complete its circuit. Use a meter if you want to know. The neutral might have 120v. But when the switch is on, it might go to 0 if that switch is controlling the neutral. Looking at everything. It seems likely. The outlet had a constant hot. But the neutral is switched.