See below...
--- "Paul Christensen, Esq." <w9ac@arrl.net> wrote:
> > This does make me think of another question: Since my amp (and several
> others)
> > has only the 2 hots and a ground, does that now mean the ground is acting
> as the "Neutral"?
>
> No, unless that "ground" is normally carrying current. The ground should
> not be acting as a neutral (even though they are at the same potential being
> tied together at one point...the distribution panel.
>
> When a ground is deliberately being used to carry current, it is no longer a
> ground. It then functions like a neutral. A ground that carries current
> during a fault condition is doing its job well...but the ground should not
> normally carry any current.
Thanks, Paul -- Yeah, I get it now. I'll look at my amp's (TL-922) schematic
closer now too see
what happens when it's changed between 120 and 240V service.
>
> Circling back to your case, your amp appears to only require 240VAC in a
> Line--Ground-Line configuration. The only conductors carrying current
> should be Line-Line...the ground is connected to the chassis for safety and
> would only conduct current only in the event of a fault condition.
>
> Part of this whole Ground & Neutral confusion is that we tend to think of
> the ground and neutral being the same. Why? Because they are tied together
> at the same point in the distribution panel. Hell, just open up the home
> panel and what do you see? You see white neutral conductors connected to
> bare ground conductors...and they're appear to be attached to the same
> terminal block? (although for wire management purposes, I've recently seen
> neutrals and grounds connected on their own blocks but still tied together
> with buss bar). So, from an electronics engineer view, they appear one in
> the same. From the electricians point of view, they are indeed at the same
> potential but their *functions* are vastly different.
>
> It wasn't until I drew the home electrical system on a sheet of paper and
> considered various fault events that this became apparent to me. Until
> then, I just wasn't sure what all the fuss was about.
Exactly my thought process, too.
> Then, ....
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