Current always returns to the source

[Dale Wesley]

Hi Mike,
Your comment current always goes back to the source has me thinking. On a single phase residential transformer I understand the two secondary series windings providing 120/240 volts.

The primary winding is connected to ground. So does all the primary current travel back to the generating source via the top ground wire? Don’t think it can get back to the source through earth ground.
Thanks.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Hi Mike,
Your comment current always goes back to the source has me thinking. On a single phase residential transformer I understand the two secondary series windings providing 120/240 volts.

The primary winding is connected to ground. So does all the primary current travel back to the generating source via the top ground wire? Don’t think it can get back to the source through earth ground.
Thanks.

It travels back via the primary and the high voltage distribution system.

 

[LarryFine]

Dale, welcome to the forum. Mike Holt hosts this site, but doesn't actively run or monitor it.

If I may suggest, instead of thinking of "current always goes back to the source", just think of the circuit itself as you would any circuit.

The primary neutral conductor, grounded or not, is part of the circuit. The source of the primary conductors is a transformer at a sub-station.

The primary neutral carries whatever current it needs to in its attempt to keep the neutral at the load end of the line as close to the voltage it is at the source end.

Are you talking about the wire at the top of transmission lines?

 

[electrofelon]

Hi Mike,
Your comment current always goes back to the source has me thinking. On a single phase residential transformer I understand the two secondary series windings providing 120/240 volts.

The primary winding is connected to ground. So does all the primary current travel back to the generating source via the top ground wire? Don’t think it can get back to the source through earth ground.
Thanks.

There may or may not be a grounded conductor on the distribution system. IF there is a grounded conductor in the distribution system ( usually called an MGN - multi grounded neutral) some of the current will travel back to the source (probably a substation) thru dirt, but not much thru any individual electrode because its resistance is much higher than the MGN.

 

[Dale Wesley]

Yes I am referring to the top wire on the power pole. Yes they go back to a transformer in a sub station.
You mentioned the MGN and that cleared it up for me once I looked it up.
Old Retired instrument/automation person curious about electrical circuits.
Thanks..

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Around here with the neighborhood distribution, most of the transformers are connected line to neutral on the primary side, and the secondary neutral is connected to the primary neutral at each pole top transformer.