2006-10-25 07:45:59 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The term 'neutral' is usually used in speaking about A/C circuits. Neutral is the non-charged side of the line, color code is white. The black line is the 'hot' side (we are talking about 110VAC single phase stuff here) and is charged with your 110Volt current.
The bare wire is a safety bond, corresponding with the 'third hole' in the duplex outlet and the green wire on some of your appliances.
See a qualified electrician for household wiring needs.
2006-10-25 07:49:59 · answer #1 · answered by credo quia est absurdum 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is used in AC mains electric circuits, in the UK domestic installations, it is the return wire but is at the same potential as earth because in the UK, mains is the product of connection between a phase and neutral the total being 240v
There is a danger with using the term "neutral" as some foreign mains systems have both feed and return at 120 volts relative to earth as they use a connection between 2 of the 3 phases and in 12v and 24 v dc systems there is no neutral as they use an earth return. Conversely the underground uses a syste whereby Neutral is at about 220 Volts to earth whilst live is at about 415 volts so a shock from Neutral rail to earth can still kill you.
Take care.
2006-10-25 08:39:28 · answer #2 · answered by "Call me Dave" 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you generate 3 phase AC there are two possible ways to connect the output windings, delta or star.
A delta connection means that the windings are connected so that they form the three sides of a triangle. A single phase is available by connecting a wire to any two corners of the triangle.
A start connection means that one end of each winding is connected to a central point. A single phase is available by connecting a wire to the central point and the other wire to the other end of any of the windings. The wire connected to the central point of the star is known as the neutral wire. Now, if the loads on each phase are organize so that they are all equal, the resulting current flowing in the neutral wire will be zero.
It is convenient when transmitting power over long distances to use a delta configuration because only 3 wires are needed.
When distributing power in a domestic environment the star configuration is used. This is useful for two reasons. The neutral wire can be grounded which prevents the whole system from floating at some arbitrary voltage above ground (this could be dangerous). If the loads on the 3 phases are not balanced, the varying load on one phase does not cause large voltage changes on the other two phases. It does, of course, require a total of 4 wires for the three phases.
2006-10-25 08:02:22 · answer #3 · answered by Stewart H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most US households have three wires. One in the middle called neutral, which is usually ground potential, but not always. The other two are 120 V of opposite polarity (or 180 out of phase if you want to get fancy) on either side of the neutral. So you can get 120V with the neutral or either of the other two, or 240 using the other two.
It's important to keep the neutral and ground separate, even if they're the same potential. Protectors operate by tripping if some the "hot" wires return current comes back by ground instead of the neutral wire.
2006-10-25 10:46:48 · answer #4 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neutral gives you the return from the Live circuit in electrical equipment
2006-10-25 07:55:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
guessing you're from uk. neutral is the return path for the "live" live and neutral. in other words it creates a complete circuit therefore realising the "resistance", in other words the appliance or light. if you disconnect the neutral with the switch or appliance on it then becomes live because the circuit is broken. you tend to find that on a 240v uk circuit that although, in previous answer, there is pme (protective multiple earthing) setup, the neutral and earth become distinct parts of circuitry in domestic households via a commonplace RCD (residual current device) which monitors changes in magnetism in AC (alternating current)
2006-10-25 07:56:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The neutral completes the circuit back to the panel and then to ground. It is like a second ground wire and guarantees circuit completion
2006-10-25 07:51:06 · answer #7 · answered by egotist61 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is a return path for the positive , and has a different potential, you need a neutral to complete an electricial circuit, as electricity is the flow of electrons from one potential to an other, there fore a neutral creatres a potential difference and thus alows the flow of electricity
the earth is a reference point.
on most new electrical installations the neutral and the earth are combined (pme system)
2006-10-25 07:48:45 · answer #8 · answered by arnold j rimmer 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's the return path for the circuit.........live to neutral can be compared - in simple terms - to positive and negative in a DC circuit.
the 'Earth' connection is a safety measure, and in some non-earthed equipment not connected at all
2006-10-25 07:50:01 · answer #9 · answered by Vinni and beer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
on an AC circuit, it completes the supply of 3 phase Current
2015-05-19 08:59:36 · answer #10 · answered by donald 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋