Neutral Conductor. The conductor connected to the neutral point of a system that is intended to carry current under normal conditions.
Neutral Point. The common point on a wye-connection in a polyphase system or midpoint on a single-phase, 3-wire system, or midpoint of a single-phase portion of a 3-phase delta system, or a midpoint of a 3-wire, direct-current system.
FPN: At the neutral point of the system, the vectorial sum of the nominal voltages from all other phases within the system that utilize the neutral, with respect to the neutral point, is zero potential.
I thought a true neutral did not carry any current.
A true neutral carries the unbalance load from the ungrounded conductors. Only a perfectly balanced system would have not current flow on the neutral.
A true neutral carries the unbalance load from the ungrounded conductors. Only a perfectly balanced system would have not current flow on the neutral.
I thought to be called a neutral it had to be perfectly balanced. I was under the impression that's why there was a push to called it the grounded conductor. Guess I was wrong....:smile:-- so what's new.
If you had a perfectly balanced system, then why would you need the grounded? I think it's called the neutral because it has no potential to ground as it is grounded.
"Neutral" conductors are covered in 310.15(B)(4).
To me the neutral is the wire going back to the center tap of the transformer.You can have a neutral without it being grounded.
I thought a true neutral did not carry any current.
The grounded conductor of a 2 wire branch circuit is not a neutral conductor.
Neutral Conductor. The conductor connected to the neutral point of a system that is intended to carry current under normal conditions.
Neutral Point. The common point on a wye-connection in a polyphase system or midpoint on a single-phase, 3-wire system, or midpoint of a single-phase portion of a 3-phase delta system, or a midpoint of a 3-wire, direct-current system.
Chris,Not according to the definition of neutral conductor in Article 100.
Also take a look at the definition of neutral point:
According to the NEC definition, if the grounded conductor connects to the neutral point of the system it is a neutral conductor.
Chris
Chris,
If all you have is a 2-wire system, like from a door bell or HVAC transformer, you do not have a neutral point per the 100 definition therefore you do not have a neutral conductor. Not all voltage sytems start as 120/240 1ph 3W.