Picture DIAGRAM for Neutral Hot Current

[brother]

I remember a while ago there was a picture diagram that someone had on this site showing the unbalanced current that the neutral carried back to the panel from one hot leg on the multbranch circuits (and also WHY we have to have an ADDITIONAL neutral when another hot is on the same leg on the multibranch). I checked the archives but cant find it. I would like to show a friend. Thanks much if anyone can direct me to it.

 

[480sparky]

If the two hots are on opposite phases, then the neutral in a MWBC is the difference (ie, subtract) between the two.

If the two hots are on the same phase, then the neutral carries the sum (ie, add) of the two.

Are you looking for what happens when you open the neutral on a MWBC?

 

[roger]

Here are a few illustrations

Roger

 

[infinity]

Just note that Roger's diagrams are for a single phase system. Two circuits from a 3 phase Wye system would have a grounded conductor current approximately equal to the phase conductor currents.