Difference Between Earthing and Neutral

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/81270#newcomments

<sigh>

Neutral carries the imbalance current between the phases.

Earth carries the fault current until the moment when a circuit protective device operates to disconnect the fault, thereby saving lives and property.

concentrate on neutral earthing..............

PW I know you have said the difference is terms is bound by the big pond but your comment "Earth carries the fault current until the moment when a circuit protective device operates to disconnect the fault, thereby saving lives and property." gives me Acid Reflux. I hope you are not referring to THE EARTH(dirt) as a conductor for the return current. I think you mean a copper conductor we call the equipment grounding conductor(a green wire) for this purpose. Details are in post #2

The common point in a star connected system called 'Neutral' which have to maintain zero potential under balanced conditions. As it is not possible to maintain a complete/pure balanced system, alwyas a current has to flow through neutral which very less than normal rated current. If fault occurs then neutral current may exceed the rated current of the system.. 'Earth' means, an external surface which maintains zero potential in all cases.. And one more thing, The potential of neutral may vary with respect to system conditions(balanced/unbalanced), but earth potential is always zero..

In an electrical circuit the ground is the conductor path for a ground fault to return to earth (ground, or it's source panel and xfmr). The neutral is a current carrying conductor, and the return path of current flow back to it's source always. If you break a neutral connection on a loaded circuit you will draw an arc because you are in fact breaking the loop of current flow returning to it's source.

Fact: Electricity, the flow of electrons is always back to it's source, which is the xfmr feeding the electrical service main panel(s). At the main panel neutral is bonded to the ground and has zero potential difference at that point only, the neutral feeder from the xfmr and the grounding electrode (ground rod) are both capable of returning current flow back to the xfmr because the xfmr is also grounded to earth, but it flows on the neutral only because it is the path of least resistance.