my previous question. why no fuse on neutral? the mains being ac. on the negative half of the cycle will the current be travelling through the neutral terminal and possibly be hazardous.
also is the current not the same truout the circuit?
2007-04-30 06:23:25 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Pretty cool...throughout my studies, this has never been explained fully (alternating current ie.)..we only deal with the
relevant calculations etc...but hear this...A.C. is alternating current!! NOT alternating voltage as such (Neutral and Live dont SWAP every 1/2 cycle )...The municipal
supply (Live) Pushes through the load (say, your lamp ) down to Neutral (which is in fact the same potential as your local Earth) and then Pulls from neutral back to the supply (Live)
...There is NO current being drawn if you say put your finger on the neutral (Never try this)..because you are at zero potential...BUT!!! if you break the circuit and hold the neutral,
you will surely be a goner, as the Live will push through you down to earth...
2007-04-30 07:52:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In AC power, the current/electrons slosh back and forth as the voltage relative to ground goes from negative to positive and back. A comparison would be standing in a pool with a board or a garbage can lid and pushing and pulling it upright in the water so the water moves away from you and back. The water can knock a small boat or person around like a heater getting hot from electrical resistance. Or like a special boat with folding flaps that would move the boat on the push and keep it from coming back on the pull - which is the way (sort of) an AC motor goes round.
2016-05-17 09:30:24 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no because in the event of a ground fault, the hot can make a return circuit to the supply by way of ground path and little or no current flow in the neutral wire itself. In a proper operating device, both wires carry identical current and make up a simple circuit. However fuses are to protect in the event of improper operation, which is why only the hot wire is fused. in any location where a faulty ground would be especially dangerous, a GFI breaker is mandatory.
2007-04-30 08:46:56 · answer #3 · answered by lare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The grounded (neutral) conductor is a current-carrying conductor however, it has no potential to earth or other grounded objects. As mentioned by the other answer, an open grounded (neutral) effectively becomes an ungrounded conductor and will have a potential to earth an other grounded parts.
2007-04-30 08:34:10 · answer #4 · answered by Bryan H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋