Why is there no current in the neutral wire?

[QueenZ]

Hello. It doesn't make sense to me why there is no current in the neutral wire, I can touch it and there is nothing but there is electricity in the hot wire... But as far as I understand, AC generator generates electricity in both wires, so why are we not getting it in our homes? What did they do to the other wire and why? Thanks!

 

[telectrix]

there is current in the neutral, but it's at zero potential , so you don't get a shock off it

 

[QueenZ]

what does it mean it has current at zero potential?

 

[telectrix]

the ground is at zero potential, you are at zero potential, and so is the neutral.all potential differences are relative to ground. think of birds sitting on a high tension cable. they don't get electrocuted because they are at the same potential, even though it may be thousands of volts. it's the potential difference that causes a current to flow.

 

[QueenZ]

ok, I don't think we're on the same page here... I know that there has to be a potential difference for the current to flow. But think about an AC generator, it has a bunch of coil on it and the 2 ends is where we get current. But it's in both wires isn't it? So why do we get it only in ONE (1) of the wires at our houses?

 

[Darkwood]

You use the term hot wire, are you based in America as terminology can cause as much confusion as trying to answer your query

 

[QueenZ]

Actually I'm in Europe... what else do you call it? the live wire?

 

[micknew]

The neutral is earthed at the generator so neutral cannot have a voltage to earth.

 

[QueenZ]

why do they earth it like that?

 

[QueenZ]

Is my illustration correct?

 

[Darkwood]

In England we have substation transformers, these give out our 3phase power 400v between them, at the star point of the transformer where all the phases me we tap of the Neutral and also the earth. Domestic houses take 1ph and N/E giving 230v between L/N or L/E.
Because the neutral and earth are derived from the same center tap they both are at the same potential thus you been touching between neutral and earth dosn't give a shock. Neutral and Earth come into our houses as either seperate or combined in the latter case it is split into 2 in the service head.
Note!! dont be under the impression that Neutral and Earth are effectively the same, the serve a very different function so should never be joined together on the customers side of the installation.

 

[KINKY]

Actually I'm in Europe... what else do you call it? the live wire?

Line Conductor

 

[QueenZ]

what is the purpose of the neutral wire? Why do we need to ground one of the wires? The circuit works just fine if you don't have a neutral wire... have you never made an AC generator and a diode that lights up? but you haven't grounded any of the wires (making a neutral wire) and it still works.... so what's the point?

 

[Guest55]

Is my illustration correct?View attachment 11919

Close but the neutral is only earthed on the suppliers side , usually near or at the transformer , not on the load side as your pic shows.

 

[Guest55]

Do you have colleges near you ?
maybe enroll at one lol.