Electric circuit

[panhandle444]

I'm looking for a diagram that shows how the electricity flows from the circuit breaker through the load.... To explain to an apprentice how a single phase circuit works.

Thanks

 

[K8MHZ]

Can't you just sketch one out by hand?

 

[panhandle444]

Can't you just sketch one out by hand?

If Im here asking...obviously I'm not confident my electrical theory....power goes from circuit breaker....then through load....goes back on neutral to the utility transformer?

 

[don_resqcapt19]

If Im here asking...obviously I'm not confident my electrical theory....power goes from circuit breaker....then through load....goes back on neutral to the utility transformer?

Exactly...the return is always to the source.

 

[drcampbell]

Wiring Simplified has some good basic info.
I haven't seen the inside of Practical Electrical Wiring, but it's by the same author and likely to cover the basics just as well.

* Park Publishing, Inc. - Electrical wiring books for professionals and do-it-yourselfers

wiringsimplified.com

I find it's helpful to start with a battery (positive & negative terminals that don't change sides) and introduce AC later.

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

Maybe someone else should teach the apprentices?

Not sure if that’s too caustic for this site, I’d so, I apologize in advance.

 

[Dsg319]

If Im here asking...obviously I'm not confident my electrical theory....power goes from circuit breaker....then through load....goes back on neutral to the utility transformer?

Could YouTube Engineering Mindset (believe his name is Paul). He’s got some good material pertaining to showing the fundamentals of how electricity works.

 

[synchro]

Exactly...the return is always to the source.

And even in the non-electrical world the word "circuit" usually refers to a path or journey ending in the same place, like a racetrack, someone on a lecture circuit, etc.
So there's a good reason they used the word "circuit" with electricity.

From the Oxford dictionary for "circuit":
Origin
late Middle English: via Old French from Latin circuitus, from circuire, variant of circumire ‘go round’, from circum ‘around’ + ire ‘go’.

 

[panhandle444]

Exactly...the return is always to the source.

Thank you for your professionalism. Much appreciated in answering my question

 

[panhandle444]

Could YouTube Engineering Mindset (believe his name is Paul). He’s got some good material pertaining to showing the fundamentals of how electricity works.

Thanks!

 

[LarryFine]

Some years ago, I posted this in response to a member who had trouble understanding neutrals and grounding. It doesn't directly explain your question, but may help.

Understanding the Neutral Conductor

Dennis, here's a really basic lesson, and we'll start with direct current, because the fact that we use alternating current is not relevant to the basics: Picture a battery, like you'd find two of in a flashlight. You have a terminal at each end, with a difference in potential of 1.5 volts...

forums.mikeholt.com

 

[roger]

If Im here asking...obviously I'm not confident my electrical theory....power goes from circuit breaker....then through load....goes back on neutral to the utility transformer?

Here's a simple illustration of a two wire circuit., follow the arrows.



Roger

 

[Little Bill]

Here's a simple illustration of a two wire circuit., follow the arrows.

View attachment 2554533

Roger

Good diagram!

That's what got General Custer in trouble!

 

[roger]

That's what got General Custer in trouble!

Yes it was.

Roger

 

[K8MHZ]

Here's a simple illustration of a two wire circuit., follow the arrows.

View attachment 2554533

Roger

Where are the circuit breakers?

" I'm looking for a diagram that shows how the electricity flows from the circuit breaker through the load.... "

 

[K8MHZ]

Here's a simple illustration of a two wire circuit., follow the arrows.

View attachment 2554533

Roger

So if I only connect a single breaker to my residential service, there will be no neutral? That doesn't sound quite right to me.

 

[drcampbell]

So if I only connect a single breaker to my residential service, there will be no neutral? ...

That's right. It's only "neutral" if the currents in all the ungrounded conductors are equal & opposite* and no current is flowing in the white/grounded conductor.
If there's current flowing in it, it's not "neutral".
Why the white/grounded return conductor is so widely called "neutral" when it's not, I cannot explain. (let alone defend)

* or their vector sum is zero, where there's more than one phase.

 

[K8MHZ]

That's right. It's only "neutral" if the currents in all the ungrounded conductors are equal & opposite* and no current is flowing in the white/grounded conductor.
If there's current flowing in it, it's not "neutral".
Why the white/grounded return conductor is so widely called "neutral" when it's not, I cannot explain. (let alone defend)

* or their vector sum is zero, where there's more than one phase.

What is the name of the conductor in the drawing that the grounding electrode conductor is connected to?

 

[K8MHZ]

That's right. It's only "neutral" if the currents in all the ungrounded conductors are equal & opposite* and no current is flowing in the white/grounded conductor.
If there's current flowing in it, it's not "neutral".
Why the white/grounded return conductor is so widely called "neutral" when it's not, I cannot explain. (let alone defend)

* or their vector sum is zero, where there's more than one phase.

The NEC defines the neutral as the conductor connected to the mid point of a single phase three wire system. That's how I was taught as well.

 

[roger]

The NEC defines the neutral as the conductor connected to the mid point of a single phase three wire system. That's how I was taught as well.

Then what's your question? Forget the NEC definition, in a two wire circuit both sides of a load see the same current, in fact with a single load it is a series circuit

Roger