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I don't really understand why the voltage in the neutral wire of an electrical instrument is zero, and there still be a current in that wire. I'm talking about AC power in our houses.

2007-03-24 10:32:03 · 5 answers · asked by tasd 3 in Science & Mathematics Physics

5 answers

The neutral wire is connected to ground at the distribution box. When current flows in the circuit, there actually is a voltage drop across the neutral wire, but the wire's resistance is so small that the voltage drop is also very small. So, at the device that's drawing the current, the voltage on the neutral wire is small but not zero. At the distribution box, the voltage is zero.

2007-03-24 10:38:17 · answer #1 · answered by etopro 2 · 0 1

I assume that you are measuring from ground? The neutral wire and ground both terminate at the same connection in the service panel.
You would get the same measurement in an automobile if you were to check the voltage from the negative battery terminal to a ground connection on the vehicle's chassis - they are the same potential, and you would get a zero reading.
It's really quite simple - at the generator, one lead is connected to earth ground and the other lead becomes the potential difference or voltage potential - often referred to as the "hot" wire (black in color on single phase household wiring). The neutral wire becomes the return for the hot wire and the ground wire is used for a safety path to ground should a faulty appliance short circuit - better to go to ground through a conductor and blow the fuse then to have the operator of the appliance complete the circuit with his body - much better!

2007-03-24 12:15:30 · answer #2 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 1 0

Medium voltage as defined via BS 7671 in the united kingdom is above 1000 volts, this incorporates the 11KV interior sight distribution strains, those on the wood poles with a 'tee' bracket and 3 insulators on perfect, desirable as much as the great grid 400KV pylons. With a stability 3 section load the two famous individual or delta linked, each and all of the present flowing in with the aid of everyone section will pass out with the aid of the different 2, and if 2 stages are proposing the burden, the present will integrate and pass out in direction of the only ultimate section. in case you draw the three section sine wave, you will see this at any given vertical line drawn on the graph. For single section lots, that's concept that the mixture load over a extensive adequate pattern would be balanced and behave as a three section load. however the independent is often offered whilst single section lots are linked to 3 section factors to hold any inbalance currents and verify that the voltage around the guy stages remains predictable.

2016-11-23 12:44:42 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

zero voltage is relative to planet earth. a 110 V source is 110v difference between source and earth. 0 v is earth, and nuetral is connected to earth so nuetral is 0 V. Current flows from High voltage to low voltage and the same current flowing in the line(110v line) will return in the nuetral in a closed circuit.

2007-03-24 10:43:53 · answer #4 · answered by koolie 1 · 1 0

the electrical instrument is broken?

2007-03-24 10:34:48 · answer #5 · answered by Skyhawk 5 · 0 1

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