Overheard at another forum

[iwire]

This is one of the responses to a question of someone's power going half out once in a while.

It does sound like one of the 2 main leads are not working.

But

the neutral is physically connected to the ground leads inside every circuit breaker box I have seen and the power comapnies only deliver 2 wires to the house, There is no neutral, the neutral goes into the ground. Please tell me what power company actually deilvers a neutral wire to each house!

Also the phases are 120 degrese apart, not 180 - but I've heard this is a local NY thing and most of the country is 180 (I don't know if this is true, but I've heard it).

The Straight Dope, Whats happening to the electricity in my house??

Anyone have any comments?

[ August 03, 2003, 05:44 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]

 

[noxx]

Re: Overheard at another forum

several....none of which are printable here I'm afraid...

-Noxx

 

[charlie]

Re: Overheard at another forum

Please tell me what power company actually delivers a neutral wire to each house! Also the phases are 120 degrees apart, not 180

All electric utilities are governed by the NESC and Rule 092B1 requires the grounded conductor to be connected to all customer service equipment, the same as the NEC section 250.24(B).

Secondly, the 120 degrees they are talking about is where apartments are being served with 208Y/120 volt transformers. Each apartment then takes 208 volt single phase and the phases are 120 degrees apart. Also, the meter fitting is required to have a fifth terminal that is used for the "neutral" potential. All of our apartments that are served from the downtown network are fed in this manner.

 

[charlie]

Re: Overheard at another forum

The Straight Dope, Whats happening to the electricity in my house??

Anyone have any comments?

 

[bill addiss]

Re: Overheard at another forum

Bob,

Interesting to say the least.
They seem to have a lot of Armchair experts over there on a wide variety of subjects. It doesn't appear that they have any Electricians though.

Bill

 

[tom baker]

Re: Overheard at another forum

I looked at it as well. One of the problems we (as electricains) have is that we all know a lot, not everything, but to be able to tell someone in a post how to do any thing is really complicated. Ten electricians do the same installation ten ways, all 100% correct.

Now with all the forums out there every one has the straight dope.

 

[bonding jumper]

Re: Overheard at another forum

Also the phases are 120 degrese apart, not 180 - but I've heard this is a local NY thing and most of the country is 180 (I don't know if this is true, but I've heard it).

You should tell him to get out a thermometer and check the degrees to be sure.

 

[iwire]

Re: Overheard at another forum

Originally posted by tom baker:
Ten electricians do the same installation ten ways, all 100% correct.

Tom I tell my apprentices almost the same thing "Ten electricians do the same installation ten ways, nine of them 100% correct."

Charlie I hope you did not forget to eat your lunch.

Bill you know I would like to jump in when I see those threads but I would not be heard over those that know better. :roll:

Another great quote from another thread.

Ive taken full 120v household current a few times you really dont have anything to worry about. It hurts like hell but its a lot less dangerous than my power tools. Standing on anything but a metal floor youll be well insulated from the ground. Assuming all of the connections, switches and contacts are covered so that you cant touch them youll be fine. The only danger from electric shock should be from the hot wire, which you shouldnt be touching anyway.

This was in reference to using 120 volts to heat a bare wire for cutting Styrofoam.

Check the forum out if you ever forget how many truly disturbed individuals we share this world with, there are some great people there but some are downright scary.

[ August 04, 2003, 04:18 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]

 

[charlie b]

Re: Overheard at another forum

I didn't realize there were so many people out there passionately competing for the ?Darwin Award.?

 

[bill addiss]

Re: Overheard at another forum

Bill you know I would like to jump in when I see those threads but I would not be heard over those that know better. :roll:

I know Bob, there's just not enough hours in the day either. ....

Bill

 

[iwire]

Re: Overheard at another forum

Darwin Awards another fun site with electricity related "safety" information.