A neutral conductor is always required. It and the hot conductor are the current carrying conductors to the load. A safety ground wire is also usually used but that carries current only in the event of a short circuit from hot to ground at the load device or possible the cable. Ground and neutral are usually tied together at the power entry service panel so they are at the same voltage potential, they differ in which normally carries load currents.I am new to the trade, and just trying to figure out exactly what a Neutral does. When using a 240, when/why is a Neutral NOT needed?
In a 240V AC system the neutral wire is always used. You can't power anything properly without the neutral wire. You need both the live and neutral wires to power a load.I am new to the trade, and just trying to figure out exactly what a Neutral does. When using a 240, when/why is a Neutral NOT needed?
In a 240V AC system the neutral wire is always used. You can't power anything properly without the neutral wire. You need both the live and neutral wires to power a load.
This isn't the US system, ours is different. Guess we need to find out where the OP is located.In a 240V AC system the neutral wire is always used. You can't power anything properly without the neutral wire. You need both the live and neutral wires to power a load.
You are right, I got confused because he mentioned 240V. However, I think he is from US because he says the neutral is not used at 240V.This isn't the US system, ours is different. Guess we need to find out where the OP is located.
To Farmfly,
What is your country of origin? There is a lot of confusion, because the UK is definately different than the USA.
Isn't the neutral normally on secondary side of distribution Xmer ?......unless if it is a power Xmer feeding an HT Xmission line. Plz correct me if I've it wrong!Though this neutral will be at the primary of the transformer.
Hi Shahvir,Isn't the neutral normally on secondary side of distribution Xmer ?......unless if it is a power Xmer feeding an HT Xmission line. Plz correct me if I've it wrong!
Oh yes! this system is commonly used many to supply single phase supply to urban areas in the US. Plz guide me to Thingmaker's link as I'm unable to trace it. ThanxHi Shahvir,
You wud be correct in what you say. But I'm referring to something different.
I wasn't referring to the distribution transformer. I believe the neutral that the OP and, for that matter, I am referring to are the ones that are given at the mains o/l. The one which provides a return path for the current. Not the one that is earthed in a wye configuration,usually at load side, for sending a out of balance current to ground.
The one I refer to as neutral(it might not be correct to refer it as that, but it serves the same purpose) is actually just the return path connected to the primary of a single phase transformer which splits the incoming supply into a two phase supply with a center tap.
IIRC, Thingmaker had a good link explaining this system. Maybe, he can still help us with it.
Actually, the link depicts a neutral wire on the secondary side just as I had posited in my earlier post!See if this helps.
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_2/chpt_10/1.html
Edit:Scroll down to the middle part.
Their confusion comes from the fact (IIRC the US distribution system for mains) that for 120V(or is it 110V?)
It is easy to get confused. While growing up, primary power in homes in US was 110VAC. Later, appliances and other things began to be labeled 115VAC. A seemingly short time after that, 117VAC started to be seen, and now it is 120VAC.. My assumption, with nothing to back it up, is that by raising the voltage on the line, the same wattage can be transferred through the distribution network with lower currents, or the other way around, HIGHER wattages can distributed with the same currents. That is a 9% increase in power without an increase in wire size.
Actually, the link depicts a neutral wire on the secondary side just as I had posited in my earlier post!
The primary side has a single winding with no provision for a return neutral.
This 'neutral'(return path) is not something unique to US power system. It is something which is present in all power systems - A path for completing the circuit that often is grounded. On the primary winding the phase will connect to one end and the 'neutral'(which is shown with (-) polarity in figure) will connect to other end.recca02 said:The one I refer to as neutral(it might not be correct to refer it as that, but it serves the same purpose) is actually just the return path connected to the primary of a single phase transformer which splits the incoming supply into a two phase supply with a center tap.
Thanks, Bill.Bill said:It is easy to get confused. While growing up, primary power in homes in US was 110VAC. Later, appliances and other things began to be labeled 115VAC. A seemingly short time after that, 117VAC started to be seen, and now it is 120VAC.. My assumption, with nothing to back it up, is that by raising the voltage on the line, the same wattage can be transferred through the distribution network with lower currents, or the other way around, HIGHER wattages can distributed with the same currents. That is a 9% increase in power without an increase in wire size.
Actually, i was referring strictly to the contents of your link only!This 'neutral'(return path) is not something unique to US power system. It is something which is present in all power systems - A path for completing the circuit that often is grounded. On the primary winding the phase will connect to one end and the 'neutral'(which is shown with (-) polarity in figure) will connect to other end.
The reason I had to mention about US power system is that the OP seems to be making a reference to it. My reply to OP has to do with the necessity of a return path often called as the 'neutral'.
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