answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

If the load is perfectly planned AND purely resistive the neutral current would be zero in a 3-phase 4 wire circuit. But that is extremely rare. Before nonlinear loads (fluorescent lighting, computers, dimmers, variable speed drives etc) 1/2 size neutrals were often used but now full size neutrals are used to cope with the increasing levels of 3rd harmonics resulting from modern equipment, which can lead to neutral currents approaching or even exceeding the phase current. With very high levels or harmonics, double size neutrals are being used in places

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Does the neutral wire size and the hot wire size have to be the same on a 120v 208v bank?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

On a 220 volt circuit where the white wire is common how many volts would the red wire be?

3 OR 4 . you only need 2 wires for 220, 1 phase is 120v between 2 of them its 220v . you also should have a ground for the third wire ,and the newer stuff requires a neutral or white wire for the 4th wire. hope i helped , D


What is considered high voltage in a 3 phase system?

There are two aspects to consider: 1. There are several different standard voltages and connections used by the power company in three phase service. 2. Depends if the voltage is measured phase-to-phase or phase-to-ground/neutral. The three phase-to-phase (A-B, B-C, C-A) voltages should be roughly equal. In typical service, they may be 208V or 240V. The phase-to-neutral voltages are sometimes intentionally different. For example, some 3-phase service has a "high leg" that is 208 volts with respect to ground (called a 3 phase high leg delta connection), while the other two legs are 120V with respect to ground, so that you can operate 120V, 240V and 3-phase loads from the same utility service. The important thing is you should always measure before connecting equipment. 208V will fry most 120V electronics.


Can you use a 120v cord that will fit a 240v socket the appliance is 240 and the cord is thick?

120v and 240v cords usually have different end configurations and will not plug into the different recepticles. However, if you changed the plug end, and the cord has the proper size rating, then yes, you could use the same cord. But, it also depends on the cord too. Most 120v cords only have three wires in them. One "hot one "neutral" and one "ground" wire. A 240v cord would have FOUR wires, two "hot" wires, one neutral wire, and one ground wire. Therefore, if you changed the voltage from 120v to 240 using a 3 wire cord, you'd not have a ground wire and that could be VERY dangerous. Note that occasionally a 240v device (e.g. some motors) will only need three wires (red,black,green, no neutral) and can be wired with a 120v cord if the cord is rated for 240v.


Can you use a 600v fuse in a 120v circut?

Yes, as long as the amp rating is the same. Examples, 600v 100amp fuse can be used in a 120v 100 amp's location.


What are the standard colors for the Hots in a 3 phase 60Hz mains supply in the US and are these same colors also standard in other countries which use 60Hz 3 phase supplies?

For 120/208v systems the colors are black - red - blue with a white neutral. For 277/480v and higher systems the colors are brown - orange - yellow with a grey neutral. Countries outside of North America generally use different colors.

Related questions

Are 120V and 208V the same?

no 208v is bigger


How do you wire a 208V motor with a 120V light bulb in the same circuit?

First off, I'm going to have to quore Robert here: (LIFE SAFETY WARNING! [disclaimer] Electricity is dangerous! You can be injured or killed! Improper installations can cause fire, injury and death! Should you be doing this yourself?) This is one of those questions - if you know this little, you shouldn't be doing what you are planning... No disrespect intended, but this is SO basic that it suggests you have not studied the subject at all! There are many good reference books and course books to study from. Unless you have 208V 3 phase power, you cannot make this work. You cannot power a 208V motor off a 120V supply. Since it is 208V, it is likely that it is a 3 phase motor. That means it has 3 hots. Check the specification plate on the motor, it should say how to wire it. With 208V 3 phase you should be able to get 120 from 1 hot phase to neutral. This means you need 5 feed wires (3 hots, a neutral, and ground) from your panel to your little light/motor contraption. Please buy a book and read up on this. It sounds like you don't know much about your system and ignorance is fatal (and not necessairly fatal to you) with electricity.


On a 220 volt circuit where the white wire is common how many volts would the red wire be?

3 OR 4 . you only need 2 wires for 220, 1 phase is 120v between 2 of them its 220v . you also should have a ground for the third wire ,and the newer stuff requires a neutral or white wire for the 4th wire. hope i helped , D


What is considered high voltage in a 3 phase system?

There are two aspects to consider: 1. There are several different standard voltages and connections used by the power company in three phase service. 2. Depends if the voltage is measured phase-to-phase or phase-to-ground/neutral. The three phase-to-phase (A-B, B-C, C-A) voltages should be roughly equal. In typical service, they may be 208V or 240V. The phase-to-neutral voltages are sometimes intentionally different. For example, some 3-phase service has a "high leg" that is 208 volts with respect to ground (called a 3 phase high leg delta connection), while the other two legs are 120V with respect to ground, so that you can operate 120V, 240V and 3-phase loads from the same utility service. The important thing is you should always measure before connecting equipment. 208V will fry most 120V electronics.


If you are making your own device and you bring in 208 3 phase for part of your needs - how can you properly tap 110 single phase from it to operate other parts of your device?

Your incoming 208V 3 phase power supply will also need an incoming neutral of the same conductor size. Then any single pole breaker installed in the panel will have 110 volts to the neutral. That is you can run 208V 3 phase motor circuits from a three phase breakers in the panel and any number of 110V circuits from single pole breakers.


Can you use a 120v cord that will fit a 240v socket the appliance is 240 and the cord is thick?

120v and 240v cords usually have different end configurations and will not plug into the different recepticles. However, if you changed the plug end, and the cord has the proper size rating, then yes, you could use the same cord. But, it also depends on the cord too. Most 120v cords only have three wires in them. One "hot one "neutral" and one "ground" wire. A 240v cord would have FOUR wires, two "hot" wires, one neutral wire, and one ground wire. Therefore, if you changed the voltage from 120v to 240 using a 3 wire cord, you'd not have a ground wire and that could be VERY dangerous. Note that occasionally a 240v device (e.g. some motors) will only need three wires (red,black,green, no neutral) and can be wired with a 120v cord if the cord is rated for 240v.


If you need 220v 3-phase power how many wires are required coming in from the transformer or power pole and what are the voltages or potential purposes of each wire load 110v load 220v neutral ground?

In 120/208V 3 phase system you have 5 wires: three hots, one neutral, and one ground. You have 208V between any two hots and 120V between any hot and neutral. The neutral is the same as in a single phase system. Clarification: Only 4 wires maximum come from the pole - 3 phases and a neutral, and then only if the transformers are on the pole. The ground is always locally derived from a ground rod(s) and/or cold water pipe ground. Most of the time, only 3 wires come in from the pole - the 3 phases in a Delta configuration (Delta has no neutral). The neutral is then derived from a local transformer connected in a Delta-Wye setup. The neutral is the center connection in the Wye. So, from the utility feeder to the transformer - 3 wires. From the transformer (wherever it is located) to the building service entrance panel - 4 wires. The ground is connected at the service entrance panel, and from there to the rest of the building you would have all 5 wires. Clear? In the US, 208/120 is a standardized mains voltage, but in some parts of the world, the phase-to-phase voltage is 220. In that case, the phase-to-neutral potential (in a 3-phase system) would be 127 Volts, not 120.


Is nitric and neutral the same thing?

No, nitric and neutral are not the same thing.


What color should the wires be in a 120v system?

It depends. In a typical US residence with 120/240v single-phase power, the ground wire will be green, the neutral will be white, and the hot conductor will be either black or red depending on which phase it is connected to. Odd numbered breakers (1,3,5, etc.) are black, and even numbered breakers are red. You will measure 120v from black to white, also 120v from red to white, but 240v from black to red. In a commercial building with 3-phase 120/208 power, ground and neutral are the same color, but there are 3 hot colors - black (a-phase) red (b-phase) and blue (c-phase). As you run down a line of breakers from top to bottom they will be wired: black red blue black red blue etc. You will measure 120v from any of the 3 hot colors to white (neutral) but 208v from black to red, red to blue and blue to black.


Can you use a 600v fuse in a 120v circut?

Yes, as long as the amp rating is the same. Examples, 600v 100amp fuse can be used in a 120v 100 amp's location.


What are the standard colors for the Hots in a 3 phase 60Hz mains supply in the US and are these same colors also standard in other countries which use 60Hz 3 phase supplies?

For 120/208v systems the colors are black - red - blue with a white neutral. For 277/480v and higher systems the colors are brown - orange - yellow with a grey neutral. Countries outside of North America generally use different colors.


What does an atom do to get neutral?

In an neutral atom, the number of protons and the electrons are the same