In the US , for example, the live wire changes from zero to +120 volts rms, then back to zero, then to -120 volts rms, then back to zero. It goes through that cycle 60 times every second. At all times throughout each cycle, the live wire "feeds" the current at the varying voltage and the neutral wire "returns" it to the power source.
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A neutral wire is always needed as the return path back to the power station for any single-phase circuit in which a single live wire feeds alternating current into the connected load.
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As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
Current on neutral in a multi phase system is caused by imbalance between the phases. Question: Are you talking about neutral or ground? The two are very different. Although neutral is grounded, it is expected to be a current carrying conductor, so current on neutral is normal, so to speak. Ground, on the other hand is a protective circuit that is not supposed to have any current on it at all.
There is more current flowing and the wire can not flow that much current.
Yes, a 3 wire system can create neutral voltages due to harmonic distortion. Neutral voltages can also be caused by load imbalance between the two hots. It is normal for neutral to have a voltage differential relative to ground. Neutral is, after all, a current carrying conductor. In a well balanced system, however, there is little (theoretically zero) current in neutral.
No, in a three phase balance load, there should not be any current through Neutral conductor. If it is a 2 wire, single phase system, the Neutral will carry the same current as live conductor if the system has no Earth fault, leak.
The neutral is a current-carrying conductor, the grounding wire is not; it is for safety as an ALTERNATE path to ground. For example, if something happens to disconnect the neutral or if the hot side comes into contact with conductive portions of an appliance, the grounding conductor can save a life by providing a safe fault mechanism.
Neutral must be carrying a leakage or fault current continuously
Current on neutral in a multi phase system is caused by imbalance between the phases. Question: Are you talking about neutral or ground? The two are very different. Although neutral is grounded, it is expected to be a current carrying conductor, so current on neutral is normal, so to speak. Ground, on the other hand is a protective circuit that is not supposed to have any current on it at all.
No. A ground wire is a non-current carrying conductor and cannot be used for hot or neutral.
No, a wire carrying a current cannot maintain a neutral charge. When a wire carries a current, it means that there is a flow of charged particles (usually electrons) through the wire, which results in a net charge within the wire.
Phase wires are "hot" wires and are the current-carrying conductors. (These are the wires that will shock you if you touch them.). The neutral wire is basically there to carry the electricity back to the source. It is not normally considered current-carrying. If you switch these two wires, you might energize the metal of equipment, causing a dangerous shock hazard.
A current-carrying wire is not electrically charged because of the movement of electrons. The wire as a whole remains electrically neutral even though the electrons are moving within it. The flow of electrons is what constitutes an electric current.
A neutral is an active conductor in the circuit. It is grounded at the source but that's for another discussion. The ground exists to ensure the proper operation of over current devices like fuses and breakers in the event of a fault.
There is more current flowing and the wire can not flow that much current.
Yes, a 3 wire system can create neutral voltages due to harmonic distortion. Neutral voltages can also be caused by load imbalance between the two hots. It is normal for neutral to have a voltage differential relative to ground. Neutral is, after all, a current carrying conductor. In a well balanced system, however, there is little (theoretically zero) current in neutral.
Balanced load means no unbalanced currents, so the neutral current should be near zero.
No, an earth wire has a specific safety role in an electrical circuit that does not allow it to be used as one of the two current-carrying wires.
Presumably, you are asking the purpose of a neutral conductor, rather than 'contactor'?A alternating-current supply has two conductors, a lineconductor and a neutral conductor. The line conductor is at system potential (e.g. 230 V in Europe), whereas the neutral conductor is at approximately earth (ground) potential because it is earthed (grounded) at the supply transformer. The neutral conductor acts as the 'return' path to the transformer, carrying the same load current as the line conductor.