Why Is the Neutral Wire Sometimes Thinner Than Phase Wires?

Comments · 42

• HO

  @hotratz69 · 3 weeks ago

  It was typically half size until the introduction of harmonic currents created from all the switching power supplies from computer loads and electronic lighting ballasts, etc. I believe full size neutrals are a requirement now for commercial/industrial applications.

  1

• HA

  @happychips1259 · 2 days ago (edited)

  We had a big building that had this to many floor electrical closets- reduced size neutrals . Then new building use - lots of computer servers ( lab, not server farm) and switch mode lighting and variable speed a/c blowers on lots of exhaust hoods. Thank goodness electrical closets were big enough. We put in triplen transformers on the feeders neutrals to allow the overheating in neutrals to be cancelled out. The 3x, 9x, 15x etc harmonics eat themselves in these ring magnetic core devices.

• DO

  @DougGarrett-xb1vh · 1 month ago

  Great information.  Most people don't have access to such a smooth explanation while in training.  Many thanks  to you..

  2

• IS

  @isaaclee6719 · 3 weeks ago

  그래 벡터합이라서 그랬던거구나!  그나저나 설명하는 그림이 예뻐서도 더 기분좋게 봤습니다. 감사합니다. 구독합니다. 26.09.06. (sun)

• GE

  @georgejames7025 · 3 weeks ago

  Great stuff 👍

  1

• CO

  @CornelHopes · 4 weeks ago

  Did this theory 4 decades ago surprisingly I still remembered it all.

• GA

  @galinstan5603 · 4 weeks ago

  An introductory video, preceding this one, explaining neutral current in a typical residential, 120/240, split phase system, would aid in fostering the concept in a three phase system.

• TE

  @TexasEngineer · 3 weeks ago

  The 1/3 neutral is typically used in power distribution circuits, not in normal usage. It can be found connecting 12 kv primary to a 3 phase transformer. it is very very rare. For transmission lines and 35 kv distribution there is no neutral because it is wired in delta. A three phase mortor does not even need a neutral wire. Just like my air conditioner does not use a neutral, only two hot legs and a ground. The neutral is used to obtain 120 v on a 3 phase 208 system. The 120 v is the voltage from one leg to the neutral.<br><br>In a split phase system the neutral carrys the imbalance and provided the ability to get 120 violts. &nbsp;if the two legs are balanced then there is no return current on the neutral to the transformer.

• MR

  @MrLESRAJ · 3 weeks ago

  Great advice, thank you, why 3 phase with neutral, &nbsp;come to house so small in size, then 3 phase appliance connect to work as you said, but rest out of one all connected to single phase ballanced, do you think neutral is big enough to handle, &nbsp;do you ever think electrician come to add new circuit, follow the rules, not at all sir.

• AX

  @axelguzman8408 · 4 weeks ago

  I built power distros for live events, and i always use the same sizes of cable for the 3 phases, neutro and ground

• JO

  @joshcarlzunega6353 · 4 weeks ago (edited)

  Excellent content. <br><br>So why use a neutral bus when it is hazardous?<br><br>I prefer a double pole circuit breaker then like a line to line set up in single phase system then

• DR

  @drwhoeric · 3 weeks ago

  I have never seen an incident where the neutral wire is smaller than a live phase wire. Also, the United States residential is on a split-phase 240 volt service (also known as an Edison Circuit) where the actual load on the neutral is the higher load of the 120 volt split phase minus the lower load of the other 120 volt split phase.