Definition of Neutral Conductor

[crash]

Re: Definition of Neutral Conductor

In any tecnical field, we will find something that needs to be described with a terminoligy. We will then go to a number of dicionaries to find a terminology to use. The terminology we choose will be as close as possible to what we are trying to describe, however it may not be exact because the original definition was never intended to describe what we want to describe ( the term neutral was "coined" before we knew about electricity (note my improvement in spell
ling).Also it may be subject to interpretations( for example I understood "belonging to neither" as being similar to public property, while you understood it to be not availible to anyone. The real point is this : Someone saw a conductor once and called it a "neutral conductor", Someone saw a conductor once and called it a "grounded conductor" " What were they trying to describe when they picked these terms? Find something in the trade and then find a word in the dictionary to describe it. Don't pick a word out of the dictonary and try to find something in the trade that fits this definition.

 

[earlydean]

Re: Definition of Neutral Conductor

Charlie, 250.24(B) applies only to services, not separately derived sources.

Crash, good point. That's why the NEC will define the term next cycle.

There will always be a difference between the commonly used terms, and the proper way of refering to the parts of the trade. This thread only points out that fact.

 

[charlie]

Re: Definition of Neutral Conductor

Originally posted by earlydean:
Charlie, 250.24(B) applies only to services, not separately derived sources.

OOPS I should have read Ed's comment more closely before commenting on this one. I was thinking services and didn't say anything about Ed's drawing since he noted it was a SDS. I thought I was up on the thread . . . big mistake.

 

[karl riley]

Re: Definition of Neutral Conductor

Bennie, I agree that it would be nice if there was a Central Authority for Words (Official World Dictionary), established originally in the Garden of Eden and unchanged since then.

But.....language began ages ago, and written language followed, in many languages, and eventually someone had the idea of writing down the accepted meanings of the words (first dictionary), but since language is living and not dead, meanings kept changing and new words arose, so dictionaries have to be revised continually to keep up with usage.

Nouns are used as verbs all the time. Take a minute to think of all the nouns that are now acceptably used as verbs.

So why decide to halt all language usage change based on the edition of Websters that you had in high school? Why not use the 1822 edition?

Still, I hate it when a sports announcer says that something "played a factor". I guess I will have to get used to it.

Karl

 

[Guest]

Re: Definition of Neutral Conductor

Here's the Cooper Power Systems definition:

Neutral - The junction point of the legs in a Wye circuit.

Cooper Power Systems

 

[Guest]

Re: Definition of Neutral Conductor

Here is an NFPA definition:

Neutral Conductor: The grounded current-carrying conductor of all electrical circuits.

Find it on page 230 of 235 pages.

../Wayne C.

[ October 24, 2003, 01:33 PM: Message edited by: awwt ]

 

[charlie]

Re: Definition of Neutral Conductor

Wayne, the responsible document for that definition is NFPA 1901, not NFPA 70. I don't think we want the Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus to dictate to us what the definition of the neutral should be. If you look at my post on October 21, 2003 08:55 PM, you will find the definition that will probably make into the Code. After the new definition is in the Code, there will be two listings of the neutral definition in the NFPA Glossary of Terms.

 

[Guest]

Re: Definition of Neutral Conductor

Good catch. Sorry for my brevity. I noticed it was for 1901, that's why I said "an" instead of "the". It was interesting to me that NFPA has chosen on one document (1901) to list neutral in its glossary. I forgot to lookup subpanel too

[Edit add: As for 8:55 PM, on my system it's shown at 6:55 PM as I have my forum tweaked for PST ]

../Wayne C.

[ October 24, 2003, 02:23 PM: Message edited by: awwt ]

 

[joe tedesco]

Re: Definition of Neutral Conductor

Code Making Panel 1 acted on the proposed definition and comment for the term "Neutral" and Held it For Further Study for the 2008 NEC.

A Task Force, comprised of Code Making Panels 1, 5, 8, and 13 will meet to develop that term, and make a suggestion in the form of a 2008 NEC Proposal.

The term "System Bonding Jumper" will be defined in Article 250 only under the rule that covers separately derived systems.

 

[gwz2]

Re: Definition of Neutral Conductor

Ed,
When I had made my comment before your great drawing appeared, yes in the case of the signal phase panelboard, is another 'wrench in the works'.

What if you added a 3? 4W panelboard to the right [or in-between the two existing ] of the two you show? Now the 'high-leg' is involved in that panelboard.

gwz2

 

[Ed MacLaren]

Re: Definition of Neutral Conductor

gwz2,

The reason I posted the drawing in my original post in this thread (October 21, 2003 09:29 PM) was to illustrate the way that our Inspection Dept requires that the feeders/branch circuits be supplied when a 4-wire Delta service exists.

These would be in existing buildings in old sections of the city, they are not used by our POCO now. Almost all new 3 phase installations here are wye, 347/600 volts.

Ed

 

[hurk27]

Re: Definition of Neutral Conductor

By Karl: established originally in the Garden of Eden and unchanged since then

I like that,
but one thing if you follow the bible it was in the babelon age, when God split up the one language in to many languages. and this is still baffeling us till today.