I sure would like someone to explain the magic that must happen at a panel as all the two wire circuits turn into a large multiwire circuit at the panel.
This is a serious question.
I'd like someone to explain it to me, too. But all my experience so far bears out the use of shared neuts has been nothing but trouble. Even when the workmanship and all connections are good.
What makes all these problems 'go way' if you run two wire circuits into a panel.'
As a guess, I would say that the size of the neutral buss and feeder
in relation to the instantanious current flow presents a much lower impedance than the smaller conductor of the shared neutral and/or return flow to opposite phases, and thus the current (or harmonics) see a lower impedance at the panel, creating less heating and other nasties. (Maybe why some swear by the "superneutral" concept in multiwire.)
It makes no sense at all.
My quote from the book was meant to point out the magic of the grid system as well. Taken to the mathematic literal sense, I understand that to tie multiple sources of generation reliably without voltage or frequency control issues, the load MUST be precisely matched to the generation available. Obviously a huge generator governor cannot respond to someone turning on (or off) a toaster, for example. It is only the resistance, reactance and impedance of the miles of lines, transformers, etc. that such load diversity doesn't cause problems. I try not to think about it too much, it gives me a headache.
![[Linked Image]](https://www.electrical-contractor.net/ubb/smile.gif)
The poco guys I know tell me stories of things that aren't supposed to happen, should never happen and are theoretically impossible to happen..but do. There are so many variables involved I feel there's no way in heck we'll ever get a definitive, one size fits all answer.
But that's another whole topic, so back on track...
