Sparky,
I need to alter my first message to you.
A few hours after logging off, I started to think about what you were asking in your message. I misunderstood and misinterpreted the whole thing!
You were asking if the Voltage / Current levels can be measured across the sinewave and the corresponding "mirrored" sinewave that composes the flow in the other wire.
I was thinking of the simple - common method; only of single waveforms
In the case of a single phase circuit; where you draw a certain sinewave, which peaks above the zero line, it has an equal, but opposite flowing wave on the other wire that peaks below the zero line - which can be viewed as being directly beneath the other one.
In this case, the total RMS values will be measured across the two waves, so the total RMS voltage will be derived from the above zero wave and the below zero wave. This coordinates more towards how a meter would measure potential [voltage] in the complete circuit.
This is not a common method of drawing sinewaves that relate to generators and such, but is common for drawing sinewaves that feed into Rectifiers! This type of drawing will show how a half wave, or a full wave Rectifier will produce an output DC with pulsations. I was looking at a dry cell, thinking about the charger for it, when I realized what you were getting at!
I'm such an airhead!
You will only see this done with 1 phase 2 wire circuits, as 3 phase 3 wire circuits will be drawn using only the fundamental sinewaves.
There is an exception [I believe
], a 3 phase Rectifier that contains 6 Diodes [could also be called a 6 phase Rectifier] would show the 3 phase waves above the zero line, plus the 3 corresponding waves below the zero line. In this case, the 1 phase scenario would apply.
Let me double check this one first
The whole thing about these sine waves is that they are just to describe how one current gradually increases in amplitude in a certain time until reaching maximum, then gradually lowers intensity, until once again there is zero current flow. At that point, the current flows in an opposite direction, first rising in amplitude to a maximum, then lowering back to zero.
It's a better way to view the event than using Vectors, plus it's somewhat easier to plot the resulting distorted effects to the Fundamental when applying harmonic distortion.
There is another type of graphic plot that uses waves. It's the one for the Power waves.
True power will be a wave that is entirely above the zero line.
Apparent Power [KVA] will have points above and below the zero line.
I'll run through my Engineering manual and add comments from it to that word processor document that I mentioned before. When it looks good, I'll post it to the forum. That way it will be direct quotes instead of "Hit and Miss"
I am getting very tired of posting incorrectly quoted stuff to you guys!! I do apologize fully for the mistakes.
Scott