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#56121 09/15/05 09:52 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 174
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bot540 Offline OP
Member
I know this has probally been asked a thousand times but does the neutral in a 2 wire single phase circuit(ie: a small apliance branch circuit) count as a current carrying conductor?


Jesus may have been a capenter,but God was an electrician.Genesis1:3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,391
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Moderator
You don't have a neutral in a two wire circuit. [Linked Image]

You have a ungrounded conductor, a grounded conductor and maybe a grounding conductor.

Both the ungrounded conductor and grounded conductor are current carrying conductors.

Bob


Bob Badger
Construction & Maintenance Electrician
Massachusetts
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,716
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Absolutely, in a 2 wire circuit it is impossible to have a neutral conductor. Click Here

Roger

Joined: May 2002
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I was a little slow on that one Bob. [Linked Image]

Roger

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 174
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bot540 Offline OP
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Thanks guys I just read the post in the nec forum and understand.


Jesus may have been a capenter,but God was an electrician.Genesis1:3
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 524
Member
...Bob,I may be wrong here,but,isn't the grounded conductor considered current-carrying ONLY when used in circuits where there are non-linear loads harmonics,such as HID lighting,servo controls,ballasts,or in a 3 phase wye utilizing only 2 phases and a neutral...etc??otherwise,if the circuit is balanced,the current on the neutral is 0,you wouldn't count it as current -carrying for derating purposes,ampacity..??
Russ


.."if it ain't fixed,don't break it...call a Licensed Electrician"
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Attic Rat, the OP was asking about a two wire circuit, not a multiwire circuit where current could balance in the neutral.

-Jon

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 524
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Ooops,..my bad... [Linked Image] [Linked Image]


.."if it ain't fixed,don't break it...call a Licensed Electrician"
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 174
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bot540 Offline OP
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Does a grounded conductor have to be perfectly balanced in order not to be counted as a current carrying conductor? Can someone give a feild example?


Jesus may have been a capenter,but God was an electrician.Genesis1:3
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 524
Member
... Take a normal 3 phase wye circuit,..all sharing the neutral,and the loads close to being equal...(barring the use of HID fixtures,processors,variable speed drives etc)and you should have a balanced circuit..
Russ


.."if it ain't fixed,don't break it...call a Licensed Electrician"
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