Yes.
Single phase, 2 phase, 3 phase etc
- Thread starter u587162
- Start date
Sponsored Links
I probably should.
To be honest, I never did much domestic, I was more involved with industrial, and it's been years since I really did any at all.I was thinking more of 3 phase actually distributed into a property though for whatever reason. Only seen that the once, unless you count places with 3 phase feeds to workshops etc.
I presume that, since his comments were directed at the OP, plugwash was talking "man in the street" language, rather than electrician language. Whilst I cannot deny that it is the correct electrical terminology, to call a neutral conductor "live" will probably confuse the majority of members of the public, and certainly would not represent 'effective communication' with most of them.
Kind Regards, John
As I said, I've got that, probably for the historical reasons I described. In fact, the size of my house is such that it could easily be configured as three flats ('flats' can be small these days!) - and if it were, I imagine that no-one would bat an eyelid at a 3-phase supply to the building, with one phase distributed to each flat.
Kind Regards, John
Sponsored Links
- Joined
- 17 Aug 2010
- Messages
- 2,741
- Reaction score
- 453
- Country
Most houses in Germany (for example) have three phase wiring. This is why it hobs here have awkward alternative connections mostly for the UK. German hobs tend to just be plugged in with a three phase plug.
Mostly I was just being sloppy, it would have been better if I had said "phase conductor".
Though it gets even more complex, apparently the convention is to consider a plain neutral as a live condutor but not to consider a PEN conductor as a live conductor.
Which is totally daft as the neutral in the UK is connected to earth any way so cannot be live
- Joined
- 17 Aug 2010
- Messages
- 2,741
- Reaction score
- 453
- Country
I've certainly had a bad shock from the neutral (to earth), under normal conditions.
Maybe - but if you'd said 'phase conductor' there's a fair chance that the OP, just like most of the general public, wouldn't have had a clue what you were talking about - so maybe 'sloppy' is preferable if one wants 'effective communication' with non-electricians!
I didn't know that - which simply makes it (IMO) 'worse'
When not in the presence of electricians, even if I were talking to intelligent people with high-level scientific or related educations, I would never dream of talking of 'line' or 'phase' conductors', and nor would I dream of describing a neutral one as 'live'. The great majority of ordinary people recognise 'live' and 'neutral' - and anything which moves away from that will simply confuse many (potentially even dangerously in some situations). BAS would undoubtedly like the entire population to be 'educated in the proper use of terminology'!Kind Regards, John
That is correct.
If it couldn't be live then it wouldn't carry any current in ordinary circumstances. (Ignoring the fact that in a balanced three-phase system it will carry no current.)
Ironically, despite his insistence that correct terminology should be used, he is one of the greatest serial offenders for abusing the term "live" and using it in a completely incorrect context.
Tell you one thing, in terms of the supply industry, the neutral is never referred to as a live conductor. It is well understood that in terms of electrical theory it has to carry current in a lot of circumstances
ESQCR says: -
(3) A generator or distributor shall, in respect of any low voltage network which he owns or operates, ensure that—
(a)the outer conductor of any electric line which has concentric conductors is connected with earth;
(b)every supply neutral conductor is connected with earth at, or as near as is reasonably practicable to, the source of voltage except that where there is only one point in a network at which consumer’s installations are connected to a single source of voltage, that connection may be made at that point, or at another point nearer to the source of voltage; and
(c)no impedance is inserted in any connection with earth of a low voltage network other than that required for the operation of switching devices or of instruments or equipment for control, telemetry or metering.
ESQCR says: -
(3) A generator or distributor shall, in respect of any low voltage network which he owns or operates, ensure that—
(a)the outer conductor of any electric line which has concentric conductors is connected with earth;
(b)every supply neutral conductor is connected with earth at, or as near as is reasonably practicable to, the source of voltage except that where there is only one point in a network at which consumer’s installations are connected to a single source of voltage, that connection may be made at that point, or at another point nearer to the source of voltage; and
(c)no impedance is inserted in any connection with earth of a low voltage network other than that required for the operation of switching devices or of instruments or equipment for control, telemetry or metering.
Last edited:
How can it be classed as live just because it carries current, live in respect to what? Not earth as it is mandated that it should be connected to earth
Does it say that in any standard in use by electricians or any book about how to work to any standard?
Because that is the definition of a live conductor, although by convention it excludes a PEN conductor.
And obviously the neutral is earthed - it wouldn't be neutral if it wasn't earthed.
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
Sponsored Links
