Hi!
I am curious about the terminology of "hot", "neutral" and "ground" terminology that is used in the USA. Here is how it works in Norway as far as I know:
Ground: connected through the electrical system in the house to a proper grounding in the soil under or near the house.
Two "hot" wires: these constitute the one-phase AC power we use, and ideally they fluctuate symmetrically around the ground potensial. It is not very seldom that they fluctuate around a different value if someone in the neighbourhood has a grounding error The potential between these two wires is around 230VAC. There is no distinction between these two hot wires here in Norway. They carry the AC electricity into the house from the street. The grounding in the house is not connected the electric cables in the street.
Is it not the same in the USA? Aren't the "hot" and "neutral" leads equivalent, i.e. both are really "hot" in the same manner with respect to earth?
Or are the voltages like this?:
hot - neutral: 110VAC
hot - ground: 0VAC
neutral - ground: 0VAC
And as in Norway, the ground lead is not connected to the street electricity? I.e. it is not as dangerous to touch "neutral" and "ground" at the same time in the USA as it is in Norway when everything is working correctly?
Best regards
Torquil Sørensen
EDIT: Sorry, I didn't remember that this is an electronics forum, so I guess this is a bit off topic...
I am curious about the terminology of "hot", "neutral" and "ground" terminology that is used in the USA. Here is how it works in Norway as far as I know:
Ground: connected through the electrical system in the house to a proper grounding in the soil under or near the house.
Two "hot" wires: these constitute the one-phase AC power we use, and ideally they fluctuate symmetrically around the ground potensial. It is not very seldom that they fluctuate around a different value if someone in the neighbourhood has a grounding error The potential between these two wires is around 230VAC. There is no distinction between these two hot wires here in Norway. They carry the AC electricity into the house from the street. The grounding in the house is not connected the electric cables in the street.
Is it not the same in the USA? Aren't the "hot" and "neutral" leads equivalent, i.e. both are really "hot" in the same manner with respect to earth?
Or are the voltages like this?:
hot - neutral: 110VAC
hot - ground: 0VAC
neutral - ground: 0VAC
And as in Norway, the ground lead is not connected to the street electricity? I.e. it is not as dangerous to touch "neutral" and "ground" at the same time in the USA as it is in Norway when everything is working correctly?
Best regards
Torquil Sørensen
EDIT: Sorry, I didn't remember that this is an electronics forum, so I guess this is a bit off topic...
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