- #1
Electrij
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- TL;DR Summary
- Question summarized:
If current always seeks the path of least resistance to ground, why does the neutral conductor not carry current directly to earth ground from the load?
Hello,
I’ve been working with electricity for a few years and have a misconception that was recently revealed again to me. I remember asking my teacher this question in school and him not being able to answer.
In North American homes (and other buildings), the neutral or “grounded conductor” is connected to Earth ground through the water pipe or a metal ground rod driven into the dirt. This is commonly referred to as bonding, where the grounded conductor (neutral) is bonded to the grounding conductor (ground) at point of service/first disconnect.
I’m trying to understand why current does not flow into the Earth from the load side of the load (neutral) if current always seeks the path of least resistance to ground. I have a hard time imagining that the path of least resistance would be through the dozens of distribution transformers and millions of feet of wire going back to the substation and power source, and not the pipe standing right next to you at the panel.
So perhaps I’m misunderstanding something in how power distribution works. I know that the neutral is “intended“ to carry current back to the source, and yes I know it is “meant” to balance out the three voltages of the power lines. I’m asking, “why” doesn’t the current just flow through the ground/neutral bond into the earth?
Consider this: if I fail to bond the neutral wire at the panel, most things in a home will still practically function except (except the breakers won’t trip necessarily in the case of certain shorts). But if I connect one of those lines to a path of low resistance to Earth ground, why does the current not go to Earth ground instead of to the source? This seems to be what is essentially happening when you bond a neutral at the panel.
Thanks in advance for answering my questions and helping to clear up some confusion.
I’ve been working with electricity for a few years and have a misconception that was recently revealed again to me. I remember asking my teacher this question in school and him not being able to answer.
In North American homes (and other buildings), the neutral or “grounded conductor” is connected to Earth ground through the water pipe or a metal ground rod driven into the dirt. This is commonly referred to as bonding, where the grounded conductor (neutral) is bonded to the grounding conductor (ground) at point of service/first disconnect.
I’m trying to understand why current does not flow into the Earth from the load side of the load (neutral) if current always seeks the path of least resistance to ground. I have a hard time imagining that the path of least resistance would be through the dozens of distribution transformers and millions of feet of wire going back to the substation and power source, and not the pipe standing right next to you at the panel.
So perhaps I’m misunderstanding something in how power distribution works. I know that the neutral is “intended“ to carry current back to the source, and yes I know it is “meant” to balance out the three voltages of the power lines. I’m asking, “why” doesn’t the current just flow through the ground/neutral bond into the earth?
Consider this: if I fail to bond the neutral wire at the panel, most things in a home will still practically function except (except the breakers won’t trip necessarily in the case of certain shorts). But if I connect one of those lines to a path of low resistance to Earth ground, why does the current not go to Earth ground instead of to the source? This seems to be what is essentially happening when you bond a neutral at the panel.
Thanks in advance for answering my questions and helping to clear up some confusion.