On Mon, 3 Jul 2006 04:43:45 -0700, R L Measures wrote:
>As I see it, under a volt is not a bane, and requiring two conductors
>in a 240v circuit that carry zero current is inane..
In the UK (and the rest of Europe), mains power is 240 volts, with one of the
conductors being a neutral (what North America electrical codes call "the
grounded conductor"). In other words, it is just like our power, except that
the "hot" or "phase" conductor is 240 volts above "ground" rather than 120
volts.
In the US, a 240 volt circuit is "balanced" -- that is, there is no grounded
conductor, and each side is 120 volts above "ground." US 240 volt outlets
REQUIRE a green wire (protective ground, or equipment ground).
Another way of looking at it is that residential power is generally derived
from a center-tapped 120-0-120 volt secondary. In large buildings, it is
generally derived from 120/208V 3-phase power. In Europe, it is derived from
a center-tapped 240-0-240 secondary or 240/420 volt 3-phase.
All of this is covered in considerable detail in the tutorial on power and
grounding on my website. http://audiosystemsgroup.com/publish
Jim Brown K9YC
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