Stupid Question

[johnnyjb]

Ok ill get slated for asking this question but i wanna know some times the small things dont pop up in college

If you touch a neutral thats in circuit will you get a shock?

Its not open circuit just imagine your touching the terminal of a socket
Would a load being connected effect it

 

[Spark123]

Only a daft question if it has a daft answer :
The proabablity in a healthy normal Terra-Neutral connected system is you will not receive a noticable shock by touching a neutral, however as stated below if a large load is put online which causes the voltage to rise it may become noticable.

 

[KingboyD]

Depends what the load is, I hear Motors often create a feedback down the neutral and you might get a zap.

 

[johnnyjb]

Would you get a shock if there was a high efli and your body was at a lower impedance than the actual efli


Another question,what would be correct
Current flows back to source of supply in event of a fault
Current follows path of least resistance to earth in event of a fault

 

[JohnD]

I spy a homework question

 

[Spark123]

Would you get a shock if there was a high efli and your body was at a lower impedance than the actual efli

Same neutral question? You'd be talking about the impedance of the neutral conductor??

Another question,what would be correct
Current flows back to source of supply in event of a fault
Current follows path of least resistance to earth in event of a fault

Current can only flow if there is a complete circuit hence it has to return to the source. In the bottom one the current will flow through all available paths, the amount of current will depend on the PD and the resistance of each path.

 

[johnnyjb]

Thanks

Its not a homework question by the way its just general info that i didnt understand

 

[vsynth]

If there is a poor connection from the main neutral to the neutral bar then yes you will get a PD on the bar and neutrals.

I once heard of an apprentice telling a works electrician that he just had a shock off of the neutral bar in a fuseboard, not believing him the electrician tried it for himself and nearly fell off the ladder

Of course you and I would have checked with a multimeter, wouldn't we?...

Also, if there is a neutral phase fault on a nearby piece of equipment you might feel something...obvious answer is you shouldn't be touching any conductor in a live installation.

 

[Spark123]

Makes you wonder about the suitability of TN-CS.
Some fuse boards do not have a shroud over the Neutral rail, 3 phase BS88 Redspots spring to mind.

 

[plugwash]

Also, if there is a neutral phase fault on a nearby piece of equipment you might feel something...obvious answer is you shouldn't be touching any conductor in a live installation.

Sadly with most CUs/DBs not providing double pole isolation of individual circuits it is often rather hard to avoid it.