2007-04-18 23:41:59 · 4 answers · asked by salman 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
In the US (for example), utility power coming into a house arrives as one wire (A) with a 115VAC sine wave relative to ground (the neutral wire), and another (B) also with 115VAC but out of phase from the first.
If you connect a wire fed by (A) to another wire fed by (A), nothing happens. They are at the same potential and are already electrically connected to each other.
If you connect a wire fed by (A) to ground (neutral), you have 115VAC from a low impedance source connected to a low resistance load. You get very high current, arcing, and wire melting. Hopefully a fuse or circuit breaker trips quickly.
If you connect (A) to (B), you get the same but at 230VAC, with even more of the same effect.
2007-04-19 08:59:25 · answer #1 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will have a short circuit causing an electrical discharge (spark) and blow a fuse or breaker. If the fuse doesn't blow, the wiring will overheat and cause a fire.
If the 2 live wires are the same voltage... no problem.
2007-04-19 02:30:15 · answer #2 · answered by Norrie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a live wire touches another live wire in a house nothing happens. if a live wire touches a neutral wire it creates a short circuit and any fuses in the circuit should blow. it is the same as live to earth.
In industry live to live could blow as they may be on different phases
2007-04-18 23:51:48 · answer #3 · answered by Easy Peasy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
always think about the voltage (or potential) of the wire. a live wire has an approx potential/voltage of 230V and a neutral has approx 0V. in order to get curernt to flow you would need a difference between these values. so live touching live no current flowing. live touching neutral, curetn would flow
2007-04-18 23:50:27 · answer #4 · answered by pat_arab 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋