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You are here: Home / Topics / Why we don’t use breaker on Neutral wire in AC Circuits?

Why we don’t use breaker on Neutral wire in AC Circuits?

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Miscellaneous › Others › Why we don’t use breaker on Neutral wire in AC Circuits?

  • This topic has 5 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 3 months ago by John Rossetti.
Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • July 19, 2014 at 4:46 am #3176
    Palash Kumar Paul
    Participant

    I have seen that we never break the neutral of single or 3 phase through MCB or MCCB during switching off or tripping. The

    What is the technical reason for not breaking the neutral during switching off or tripping of MCB & MCCB.what will happen if we break the neutral?

     

    July 23, 2014 at 11:26 am #11928
    AJISH ALFRED
    Participant

    Even if one break the neutral, the phase can still cause a very high current flow through earth wire towards ground if there is a short, or through someone’s body towards ground. There is no need to break the neutral wire since it is supposed to be at zero potential and it cannot cause any damage alone.

    July 24, 2014 at 5:51 pm #11935
    Palash Kumar Paul
    Participant

    Actually my question is what will happen if we break neutral? Because in some standard does not allow using breaker in neutral wire.

    July 25, 2014 at 5:10 am #11936
    John Rossetti
    Participant

    If you break the neutral the circuit and device is still hot.  Neutral is the same potential as ground.  Breaking the hot is the best way to remove all current from the circuit.

    August 18, 2014 at 10:20 am #12033
    Palash Kumar Paul
    Participant

    I saw many circuit breakers (DP, ELCB) where phase and neutral are break at the time of Circuit breaker trip.  But some standard do not permit breaking of neutral. If we break both neutral and phase (hot) at same time, what will happen? Any hazard may occur? If so, what is the hazard?

    August 21, 2014 at 6:57 pm #12054
    John Rossetti
    Participant

    I think what you might be refering to is a GFCI breaker.  This type of breaker has a white wire right out of the breaker housing that needs to be connected to the neutral buss.

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