Wire Reverse between Life and Neutral

Thread starter masterbatmon
Start date Nov 13, 2006
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Life Neutral Reverse Wire

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on detecting reversed wiring between the Life (hot) and Neutral wires in electrical systems. Participants emphasize the importance of using a multimeter or a test plug to verify correct wiring, particularly in household circuits. They highlight that in the UK, proper wiring requires an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) and that incorrect wiring can lead to dangerous conditions. The conversation also touches on the significance of grounding and the implications of faulty connections in electrical systems.

PREREQUISITES

Understanding of electrical wiring color codes (e.g., black for hot, white for neutral, green for ground).
Familiarity with testing tools such as multimeters and test plugs.
Knowledge of Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers (ELCB) and Residual Current Devices (RCD).
Basic principles of AC electrical systems and grounding practices.

NEXT STEPS

Research proper wiring standards and codes in your region (e.g., NEC for the US, IET Wiring Regulations for the UK).
Learn how to use a multimeter for testing electrical circuits.
Investigate the function and installation of Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers (ELCB).
Understand the differences between grounding and neutral connections in electrical systems.

USEFUL FOR

Electricians, electrical engineers, DIY enthusiasts, and anyone involved in home wiring or troubleshooting electrical systems.

Apr 25, 2008

jimee

IR drop is the issue.

The following is not to be relied on ...

1. A reason that sudden high loads cause a voltage burp
is that the line from a pole transformer to the service
panel can have enough impedance for a significant IR drop.
When the service neutral is in redundant bond to earth
ground near the service drop, that IR delta is reduced.
Ground bond wires carry current flow shared with the
neutral from the pole transformer, assuming that the
pole transformer ground is in place.

2. Outlet neutrals are not good ground returns for a
couple of reasons that I can think of at this time.
A small fault current from hand to hand can be fatal,
so a "redundant" ground wire, with low impedance,
increases the odds of timely fuse or breaker operation,
particularly if the event creating the shock hazard also
damaged the neutral. A surviving ground conductor
can trip a fuse or breaker to avoid a hazard.

Also, a bare or green conductor is less likely to be
disconnected or left unconnected at the service end.
(Outlets without a ground conductor are not hard to fix if
codes allow running a protected wire to a nearby ground.)