Service Neutral

[fredspence]

Why does the service neutral usually have no insulation (and is sometimes used as a messenger)? It must carry the unbalanced current back to the secondary side of the transformer. I understand it is grounded, but the circuit would work with or without being grounded and the ground (planet earth) is certainly more impedance than the conductor to the secondary side of the transformer.

 

[russ]

Re: Service Neutral

I imagine the overhead service neutral is bare for the conveniences of attaching the hanging hardware to it. It is used as a messenger along with a strand that is more dense than the others.
I'm not sure what the other strand is made of?

As for the circuit working with out being grounded, yes it would. We bond the service equipment and the rest of the electrical metallic parts so fault current can get back to the transformer, and not liven the metal parts with current. We ground these metal parts to "limit the voltage imposed by lightning or unintentional contact with higher voltages".

Russ

[ December 11, 2003, 07:56 PM: Message edited by: russ ]

 

[charlie]

Re: Service Neutral

Everything on the line side of the service equipment is grounded to the MGN so why would you be concerned about the insulation?

The wire you are talking about is ACSR (aluminum conductor, steel reinforced). The center conductor is galvanized steel.