What is the general rule ratio of current measurement between hot conductor & neutral on a 120VAC circuit. When is it equal?
2007-02-08 04:29:25 · 4 answers · asked by honker 4 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The rule is: What Goes Out Must Come Back.
Electrical energy is always trying to return to its source. In an AC Circuit, the current that is measured at the breaker (hot conductor) should be the same as the current measured measured on the neutral wire of the same circuit. The ratio is 1:1.
A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) works on this principal. It measures the current on the hot conductor and compares that with the current returning on the neutral conductor. If the difference in currents is more than a few milli-amps the GFI trips.
2007-02-08 16:05:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't measure hot-to-neutral current directly, you need to have an appliance or some other form of resistance in the circuit. The current measurement can never be "equal", but the voltage in the two wires could be, if the hot conductor were switched off. The relationship is Volts = Amps x Ohms, or Watts = Amps x Volts. Example: a 100 watt light bulb uses about 0.9 amps in a 110 volt circuit. Example: If an appliance is 1100 watts, it's using 10 amps of current. Example: If an appliance is using 5 amps of current, its resistance is 22 ohms. Hope that helps.
2007-02-08 12:42:10 · answer #2 · answered by TitoBob 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My understanding was that the current should be the same. (Unless some current was leaking out through ground.)
2007-02-08 12:39:39 · answer #3 · answered by KirksWorld 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
extremely tough factor. do a search with google. it can help!
2014-11-15 04:24:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋