AC current flow

[Monkeyblaine]

Im having a little trouble understanding AC current flow... My understanding is that the electrons jiggle backwards and forwards due to the waveform of AC, so I don't understand why there is a need for a neutral as the electrons don't need a return path as they don't actually move anywhere unlike in a DC circuit where they move round and round... If someone could correct my understanding of this I'd muchly appreciate it.

 

[Knobhead]

Re: AC confusion

This may help
View attachment 11498

 

[Richard Burns]

Re: AC confusion

Voltage is a potential difference between two points; for ac, between live and neutral. It does not flow it is a value.
Current is the amount of charge transferred through the cable and is "pushed" by the voltage as a sort of pressure.
For the AC waveform that tony shows above the Line conductor (Live) has a voltage sine wave varying at 50Hz.
The neutral conductor is at a nominal zero volts with respect to the line conductor at all times.

The potential difference between the line conductor and the neutral conductor has a root mean squared value of 230V (nominally). This means that the peak voltage is +/-325V.

So you can say that the voltage of the live (with respect to the neutral) starts at zero rises to +325 volts drops to zero then drops down to -325V and back up to zero, then starts again.

Whilst the voltage on the live is positive wrt the neutral current flows one way and when the voltage on the live is negative with respect to the neutral it flows the other way.

 

[Marvo]

One thread deleted and two similar threads merged.

Please just stick with the one thread to discuss one topic Monkeyblaine. Thanks.

 

[Monkeyblaine]

Ac help please help!!!!!!

Im confused... I understand that on the positive half cycle the 230V goes through the line conductor, through the load and then through the neutral and on the negative half cycle it does the opposite but im confused what pushes the 230v through the neutral when its on then negative half cycle especially when the neutral stays at 0V the whole time... Can someone please help me understand AC!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Knobhead]

Re: Ac help please help!!!!!!

For goodness sake have a look at this link

Google

 

[Silly Sausage]

Re: Ac help please help!!!!!!

I'll give you an explanation about how electricity works but you'll have do some reading up first on Thermodynamics and Entropy!

 

[Knobhead]

Re: Ac help please help!!!!!!

I was thinking more along the lines of atrophy.

 

[Adam W]

Re: Ac help please help!!!!!!

Wasn't there another thread on this same subject earlier?

 

[Knobhead]

Re: Ac help please help!!!!!!

Echo.........
Echo......
Echo...

Worded diferent, but the same.

 

[Darkwood]

Re: Ac help please help!!!!!!

Monkey pls stop starting new threads, Marvo has spent his time and patience merging your last 2 and you start yet another on the same theme, we've all tried our best to simplify it for you and if you still struggle id just accept what we say and put you efforts into learning the trade and stop trying to confuse yourself, its great you feel the need to understand the underlying theory of AC but just give yourself more time and like most things the pieces do slot together and you have that personel VOILA moment.
Dont in anyway take this as an attack on your intellect its just sometimes takes longer to put the pieces together because of the complexity of the fundemental workings of electricity, i remember i struggled for years on certain aspects but it does just click one day .... just be patient!

 

[Knobhead]

Marvo, have a look in theories and electrical wiring.

Sorry I lost my rag with him.

 

[Darkwood]

One thread deleted and two similar threads merged.

Please just stick with the one thread to discuss one topic Monkeyblaine. Thanks.

Not sure he read this as i hate to inform you lol..... how your ability at merging 3 threads :dizzy2:

 

[Darkwood]

Re: Ac help please help!!!!!!

PS please refer to Richard Burns post in your previous thread hes done a good job at explaining it, i dont think you can really put it any more simpler.

 

[Knobhead]

This has got to be a wind up.

One of the better ones.

Think I’ll go and read Archie’s thread about new members again.

 

[Richard Burns]

Last help.

Voltage does not flow. Voltage is a pressure that causes current to flow.

Current flows. The current that flows is determined by the resistance (inductance) of the load and the applied voltage.

For a Current to flow there must be a circuit (for a.c.) from Line to Neutral and there must be a voltage between the two.
The voltage on the Line varies from +325V to -325V.
The voltage on the Neutral stays at zero.

When the voltage on the line is zero then no current flows as there is no voltage between line and Neutral
As the Line voltage rises up to +325V the current flow rises in proportion to the voltage (assuming a fixed load).
Conventional current flow is from Line to neutral.
The voltage on the line then falls to zero as does the current flow.
The voltage on the line then drops to -325V the current flow increases proportionally but going from Neutral to Line.

This diagram may help, showing a load of 230 ohms between Line to Neutral and demonstrating the current flow at points along one and a half cycles (0.03 seconds)
View attachment 11506


If you cannot get this then read the links you have been given.