Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!pilchuck!ssc!tad From: tad@ssc.UUCP (Tad Cook) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: ANOTHER house wiring question (this one's basic) Summary: neutral, ground Message-ID: <779@ssc.UUCP> Date: 14 Jan 91 06:20:11 GMT References: Organization: very little Lines: 28 In article , mrapple@quack.sac.ca.us (Nick Sayer) writes: > > Now ground and neutral clearly are not the same thing. I would > expect negative side effects were I foolish enough to hook > a light bulb between hot and ground. Ground and neutral are hooked together at the electrical service entrance or on your breaker panel. > > But wait! In AC, every half cycle the current goes the other > way! So why isn't there a potential between neutral and ground? > Inquiring minds want to know! The shift in current direction has nothing to do with it, but actually there usually is a small potential between ground and neutral at an outlet, depending on the load and the wire resistance. Tad Cook Seattle, WA Packet: KT7H @ N7HFZ.WA.USA.NA Phone: 206/527-4089 MCI Mail: 3288544 Telex: 6503288544 MCI UW USENET:...uw-beaver!sumax!amc-gw!ssc!tad or, tad@ssc.UUCP