Transformer neutral

It depends what part of the circuit it plays.

If it is the return path for either + or - signals, It may make some of the circuits not function.

If it is simply a safety ground, all the circuits will continue to work, however, the equipment may build up a large unsafe potential that could electrocute and or kill anyone that touches it. The build up depends on time and modes of operation.

There is another problem that could happen,

If the Neutral line is not available on the power outlet, use an outlet that has that connection, if you run from another outlet a separate Neutral line, this could play havoc with your saftey circuits (EL/RCD breakers) as the currents will be unbalanced.

I once had to drive for 2 hours to get to a job site that complained that the new product our company sold them was tripping their breakers, and they had 2 cables running from different sides of the factory, 1 was the phases, the 2nd was the neutral.

I'm not trying to "short circuit" your question, however, in this case, a little knowledge could be a very dangerous thing. Consult an experienced electrician who can make an on-site evaluation of your particular situation. If you are asking because you are working on a hypothetical situation, more circuit details are necessary for a good answer (i.e. transformer details, supply voltage(s), loads and their connection to the transformer, etc.

Techno was fully correct, you could kill somebody. That somebody might be you, so be careful, do not do anything to cause that situation!!

Have a great day!

I'm afraid you confuse with protective earthing and system earthing.

The point we are talking about lies under system earthing as it concerns the connection between neutral of the supply and the earth.

Protective earthing which belongs to safety, concerns the connection between the metallic enclosure (non-current-carrying metallic parts) and the earth. Such a connection is essential for human protection against faulty connection between a live conductor and the transformer body.

Do you agree?

Samak

I am not confused, you cannot read or are yourself confused maybe, it could be that time of the month....or you want to play the semantics game!!!!

This blog was all about Neutral earthing, therefore to play safe, one must assume (as has EVERYONE else, except your good self!) and to answer as I did with Techno I believe, with regards to earthing and Neutral, which is/are/should be correctly connected together at the nearest substation.

The reason being that is this is not done and phases are not equally loaded on the transformer, the earth and the neutral would or could end up with a large potential difference that could become dangerous to users. It does not do some sensitive equipment much good either.....ELCBs would also I believe be difficult to set up correctly and would (I believe) be constantly being actuated....I have not had an experience where the neutral & earth were not bonded correctly, so I can only say what I myself have been told by people who at least profess to know better.........

I worked for over 30 years as a specialist in the computer business, I know full well the difference between the two.....I have even helped a few electricians to get it right and I have even helped in repairing equipment when they have got it wrong!!! Over the years, several times in several different European countries.....

Why confuse the issue, up to the point in time of your post, it was quite clear for all concerned.....

....and in spite of what you appear to think with your semantics, the neutral/earth bonding at the local substation IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF EARTH SAFETY.......without it, there would be even more deaths through electricity than they are now!!!

I am all for correct semantics when it helps, in this particular case it does not.....

Read through what Techno wrote again (all I said was that I agreed with Techno!), what is your problem with that? Basically it is simple and correct and covers two different conditions, the first having nothing to do with neutral though, but should I jump down his throat like you do because of that????:-

It depends what part of the circuit it plays.

If it is the return path for either + or - signals, It may make some of the circuits not function.

If it is simply a safety ground, all the circuits will continue to work, however, the equipment may build up a large unsafe potential that could electrocute and or kill anyone that touches it. The build up depends on time and modes of operation.

OOPS...ANDY that was abit rough.........

If misunderstood by another reader, not that we would probably ever find out, but someone might get killed.....

Its too dangerous to play with semantics in such areas.....he jumped on me without a "bye your leave" etc., I answered back! Normal business!! Safety first on all fronts!

Yo right andy safety first n apparatus later

Be relax Forum's friend, and take it easier.

I didn't intend to disturb or upset you. I thought it's a technical discussion just for exchange of knowledge and experiences. However, I'm so sorry for that.

Now,if my apology is accepted, let me clarify what I mean.

In design phase and/or practice, neutral of the system and earth are usually (not always) connected and are world-widely known as system earthing or system grounding. If this connection is lost (even intentionally disconnected), how/when/why...etc. - in your words - "could electrocute and or kill anyone that touches it.", also,what do you mean by the final word in your sentence "it"?

Your answer may S.O.S (Save Our Souls).

What I said is clear:

1. The above disconnection, will never hurt/injure anybody touches "it", such "it" is any touchable surface of the equipments,(may be a transformer body, a case of computer, etc.).
2. A human can be electrocuted or injured if a ground fault (phase-to-earth fault) occurs while touching a touchable metallic case/enclosure of the faulty equipment of which its case/enclosure is NOT connected to the earth.
3. A human will be safe in the above case (#2) if the metallic case/enclosure is correctly connected to the earth. Such a connection is, also world-widely, known as protective earthing (PE).

That's what I believe. And that's what I'll appreciatively leave as soon as I'll be corrected.

Finally,if my apology is not accepted, just correct the above.

Samak