how can a neutral wire have 0volts when electricity flows through it?

Question

for electricity to flow, you need a voltage. so how does the neutral wire, which has no voltage, have an electricity flowing through it? thanks!

Answer 1

You are right! Actually, a potential difference -voltage- exists between the ends of a wire in order for the current to flow. It's also true that an electric field sets up within the wire, for the same reason. No less true, however, is that this voltage is in most cases, negligible; at least, when compared to the 120 mains voltage. This is due to the low resistance of the wires employed.

To give you an idea, 100 ft of No. 14 AWG wire has only 0.25 Ω resistance; at 15 A, which is the maximum current allowed by regulations for this wire size, the voltage "drop" -voltage across the wire- is 3.75 V, or about 3% of the available voltage.

Moreover, as well, regulations limit this voltage drop to a maximum 5% of mains voltage. In practical terms, this means that a line 100 ft long, carrying 15, should be wired with No. 12 -a thicker- wire, for the effective length of the wires involved is twice the length of the line: source to load, then return back. 200 ft of No. 14 wire would drop 7.5 V, exceeding the allowed limit.

Thence, you may be quite certain line drop amounts but a small fraction of the source voltage, whatever the case. For the neutral wire, it'll be essentially correct to say its potential is at 0 V, although, rigorously, it isn't absolutely true.

Answer 2

for electricity (current) to flow we need voltage difference, therefor what makes the current flow is the voltage difference between the hot wire 220 or 110 V and the neutral 0 V

Answer 3

The neutral completes the circuit (the return path) so if you measure between live and neutral you will get a voltage. Think of it like a race track the car crosses the start line then at the end of the lap crosses the finish line.

Answer 4

There is a voltage between live and neutral, and when theres somethin conductive between them, such as your head, current does indeed flow between them.

Voltages are relative. If you decide to call the neutral point "0V", 200V, 1 billion volts, or whatever, it doesnt change the voltage beteen live and neutral.

By the way, the neutral line is usually joined to earth at the local substation, but since current does flow through it, andthe wires fromthe SS to you have some resistance, there could be a voltage difference between N and E at your end. e.g. 10V, but this is less likely thanit used to be because of better earthing.

Answer 5

This is a basic concept that some find hard to grasp. I taught basic electronics at one time and can offer a couple of other explanations/examples that might help. I only hesitate to do so because they can also confuse a student.

So I make you the following offer:

If you understand an explanation given in any of the above answers then you don't need me. But, if you are still in the dark, no pun intended, please contact me through my profile. Send me your email address and I will do my level best to provide an example you can understand. Like most other basic ideas, once the light comes on, again no pun intended, it will never dim.

Good luck, and don't hesitate to contact me. I am dead serious, I will help you to the best of my ability.

Answer 6

the neutral wire does have a current flowing through it. the live wire and the neutral wire form the complete curcuit

Answer 7

Zero volts on neutral... Its relative to where you measure from.

A volt meter is showing you the diference in potential from one lead ot the meter to the other. I can place one lead on either end ( plus and minus) of a battery and show 1.5 volts. But if I place both leads on the same terminal I will show zero volts. (both leads on plus OR both leads on Minus) There is no difference between the leads because both are at the identical potential....(No difference)


In an electrical panel neutral and ground are connected together. So if you are trying to measure the potential from neutral to ground. It will be like my example you have both leads connected to the same potential.

Answer 8

When you measure from neutral to ground there is no voltage but if measure neutral to the hot wire it will read 120 volts.

Answer 9

because the neutral returns the flow of electricity after the power has done its job, the power that has been used is 'deactivated'.

Answer 10

there is exchange between negative and positive charge (equal) from inside the neuro-cell and outside it, this effect propagate through the nerve, so there is net charge on the nerve and there is no net charge transferred by it