[firebird]

1. Is the Hot wire more insulated than the neutral? If so, why? If
the current is the same at all points in a circuit, the neutral wire
will carry all the current coming in from the hot wire back to
ground...so why have less insulation for the neutral wire?

2. Also, why do we need a third prong when the neutral is already
connected to ground? Is the third prong only there to overcome the
hazards of faulty wiring (hot to neutral socket and neutral to hot
socket)? If so, can't the third prong be wired incorrectly as well
(albeit very rarely)?

3. Is it true that the third prong is grounded close to the building
and the neutral is grounded far away at the power station itself? If
so, why?

 

[John Popelish]

firebird wrote:

My answers refer to common residential practice in the US.

1. Is the Hot wire more insulated than the neutral?

No. They have the same kind of insulation. Hot is normally black
(may be red if second hot is used), neutral normally white. The
safety ground wire is either uninsulated or insulated with green or
green with yellow stripe.

If so, why? If the current is the same at all points in a
circuit, the neutral wire will carry all the current coming
in from the hot wire back to ground...
so why have less insulation for the neutral wire?

Where have you seen less insulation on a neutral?

2. Also, why do we need a third prong when the neutral is already
connected to ground? Is the third prong only there to overcome the
hazards of faulty wiring (hot to neutral socket and neutral to hot
socket)? If so, can't the third prong be wired incorrectly as well
(albeit very rarely)?

The safety ground conductor is there to keep conductive parts of
appliances at a safe potential (with respect to the Earth) in the
event of leakage between the hot wire and those parts, or to blow the
fuse or circuit breaker on the hot wire, in the event that the hot
wire comes into contact with the exposed conductive parts of an appliance.

3. Is it true that the third prong is grounded close to the building
and the neutral is grounded far away at the power station itself? If
so, why?

No. Both are grounded at the power panel. This provides a low
resistance path back to the fuse or circuit breaker in the hot to case
short situation.

The neutral is also grounded outside at the distribution transformer
that performs the last voltage step down to the residential voltage of
240, center tapped. The center tap is what is grounded.

 

[firebird]

Where have you seen less insulation on a neutral?
All the socket wirings I've seen had similar appearance for neutral and
hot wires (except the color). Someone told me they have different
insulation...so I assumed the wires can potentially have different
insulation even if they appear the same from outside.

The safety ground conductor is there to keep conductive parts of
appliances at a safe potential (with respect to the Earth) in the
event of leakage between the hot wire and those parts, or to blow the
fuse or circuit breaker on the hot wire, in the event that the hot
wire comes into contact with the exposed conductive parts of an appliance.

I understand this need for grounding the conductive parts of the
appliance, but why can't the neutral wire be used for this?

No. Both are grounded at the power panel. This provides a low
resistance path back to the fuse or circuit breaker in the hot to case
short situation.

Okay. But I have a side question related to fuse/breaker box...is it
located on the hot wire line or the neutral wire line?

 

[firebird]

Where have you seen less insulation on a neutral?
All the socket wirings I've seen had similar appearance for neutral and
hot wires (except the color). Someone told me they have different
insulation...so I assumed the wires can potentially have different
insulation even if they appear the same from outside.

The safety ground conductor is there to keep conductive parts of
appliances at a safe potential (with respect to the Earth) in the
event of leakage between the hot wire and those parts, or to blow the
fuse or circuit breaker on the hot wire, in the event that the hot
wire comes into contact with the exposed conductive parts of an appliance.

I understand this need for grounding the conductive parts of the
appliance, but why can't the neutral wire be used for this?

No. Both are grounded at the power panel. This provides a low
resistance path back to the fuse or circuit breaker in the hot to case
short situation.

Okay. But I have a side question related to fuse/breaker box...is it
located on the hot wire line or the neutral wire line? I would assume
the hot wire line, but just making sure...

 

[Phil Allison]

** Groper ALERT !!!

1. Is the Hot wire more insulated than the neutral?

** No.

2. Also, why do we need a third prong when the neutral is already
connected to ground?

** Cos it is may not always be.

The fact is that a "protective or safety earth " must be INDEPENDENT of
the AC power supply circuit and so cannot be also current carrying
conductor.

An appliance with the neutral connected to its own metal housing would
become LETHAL if the neutral pin failed to connect properly to the AC outlet
while the active connection was OK.

Draw the circuit out for yourself.

3. Is it true that the third prong is grounded close to the building
and the neutral is grounded far away at the power station itself?

** Wot dumbfuck idiocy.




........ Phil

 

[firebird]

What is a Groper Alert?

 

[John Larkin]

3. Is it true that the third prong is grounded close to the building
and the neutral is grounded far away at the power station itself? If
so, why?

Around here (California) the ground is local, a big pipe or something
near the breaker box, and the neutral is grounded somewhere down the
block, at the distribution transformer. I once had an open neutral in
my old house, and one ac phase went up to about 140 volts while the
other dropped to about 100. The bad connection was up on a pole,
across the street and down the block a ways. Neutral and ground are
generally not connected within a residence.

John

 

[Phil Allison]

What is a Groper Alert?

** A Google Groper is someone like you.

Uses "googlegroups" and "gmail" to invade usenet with their asinine tripe,
puerile trolls and spams.

All Groping in the dark for self amusement.






........ Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"John Larkin"

Around here (California) the ground is local, a big pipe or something
near the breaker box, and the neutral is grounded somewhere down the
block, at the distribution transformer. I once had an open neutral in
my old house, and one ac phase went up to about 140 volts while the
other dropped to about 100. The bad connection was up on a pole,
across the street and down the block a ways. Neutral and ground are
generally not connected within a residence.

** They are *most certainly* are linked WITHIN premises in most other
places ( UK, Australia & much of Europe) - basically any place that uses
the " MEN " system.

California is the home of " fruits, nuts and loops " so no surprise it is
out on a limb.





........ Phil

 

[John Larkin]

"John Larkin"



** They are *most certainly* are linked WITHIN premises in most other
places ( UK, Australia & much of Europe) - basically any place that uses
the " MEN " system.

California is the home of " fruits, nuts and loops " so no surprise it is
out on a limb.

Does that mean you won't be visiting us any time soon?

John

 

[John Larkin]

** A Google Groper is someone like you.

Uses "googlegroups" and "gmail" to invade usenet with their asinine tripe,
puerile trolls and spams.

All Groping in the dark for self amusement.

Whereas sensible people are constantly angry and never amused.


John

 

[John Popelish]

John Popelish wrote: (snip)

I understand this need for grounding the conductive parts of the
appliance, but why can't the neutral wire be used for this?

Because of Ohm's law. The neutral wire is a resistor somewhere
between zero and infinity ohms. It is connected to the hot wire
through any load. Its voltage at the load end is dependent on its
resistance and the current passing through it. Normally, one expects
its load end to be within a few volts of Earth potential, but would
you want to trust your life to all the connections back to its
grounding point being tight? The safety ground conductor also obeys
Ohm's law, but is not normally loaded with up to its rated ampacity
with load current. It is expected to pass only leakage current, or to
briefly carry a fault current, for as long as it takes to open the
over current protective device (fuse or circuit breaker on the hot side).

Okay. But I have a side question related to fuse/breaker box...is it
located on the hot wire line or the neutral wire line?

Hot, only. Once the hot conductor is opened, the neutral is just a
wire connected to ground, so it helps bleed any leakage current that
gets through the breaker and the load that popped it.

If the load is connected between the to opposite hot wires (240 volts)
then a double breaker is used, that opens both hots if either or both
experience an over current. In that case there is no neutral, only
two hots and a safety ground.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

What is a Groper Alert?

Ignore Phyllis, he's always on the rag. He hates himself, and
everything else in the known universe.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Does that mean you won't be visiting us any time soon?

John

You know that California doesn't allow foreign fruit or nuts across
its borders.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Around here (California) the ground is local, a big pipe or something
near the breaker box, and the neutral is grounded somewhere down the
block, at the distribution transformer. I once had an open neutral in
my old house, and one ac phase went up to about 140 volts while the
other dropped to about 100. The bad connection was up on a pole,
across the street and down the block a ways. Neutral and ground are
generally not connected within a residence.

John

If they are connected, it is only at the main breaker, and called
Bonding. Some areas require it, while others outlaw it, depending on
local soil conditions.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[John Larkin]

You know that California doesn't allow foreign fruit or nuts across
its borders.

It's OK if they're certified sterile.

John

 

[Jamie]

Around here (California) the ground is local, a big pipe or something
near the breaker box, and the neutral is grounded somewhere down the
block, at the distribution transformer. I once had an open neutral in
my old house, and one ac phase went up to about 140 volts while the
other dropped to about 100. The bad connection was up on a pole,
across the street and down the block a ways. Neutral and ground are
generally not connected within a residence.

John

i don't see why CA is not to follow the NEC rules?
the ground you are referring to is the electrode and thus
is used to connect your breaker box case and in that box
is the bus bar for the earth ground a long with the neutral
wire.. no where else is neutral ever to connect to an
earth ground or the ground you run out of the box with
your 3 WYE..

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

It's OK if they're certified sterile.

John

Any veterinarian could fix that for him.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[jasen]

1. Is the Hot wire more insulated than the neutral? If so, why?
no.

If the current is the same at all points in a circuit, the neutral wire
will carry all the current coming in from the hot wire back to
ground...so why have less insulation for the neutral wire?

the voltage has more impact on thickness of insulation.

2. Also, why do we need a third prong when the neutral is already
connected to ground? Is the third prong only there to overcome the
hazards of faulty wiring (hot to neutral socket and neutral to hot
socket)? If so, can't the third prong be wired incorrectly as well
(albeit very rarely)?

It can be, and that's dangerous. it's also to protect against a broken
neutral conductor.

3. Is it true that the third prong is grounded close to the building
and the neutral is grounded far away at the power station itself? If
so, why?

here the ground and neutral are connected at the fusebox.