Originally Posted By: pabernathy
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Joe,
I have posted the official definition of the term as I do not write for the NEC Review Board and like you simply make suggestions to it's revisions.
The post you linked to in not a good example of needing to know the term of Neutral but more over the violation of conductions of the same circuit remain in the same raceway....but never the less a interesting picture and love the ground wires jumping outside the panel.
I will assume the conduits were sized right.....some look very crowded but again I usually do not comment alot on those things unless I can really see it well.
Now chances of the EC re-running N and G's in those already pulled conduit bring up others issues as well.....As a EI myself my solution which the EC would not like...is the re-pulling of the conductors by someone who knows what they are doing in respect to this.
Neutral here has two subtly different meanings:
In a polyphase or three-wire AC system, the neutral conductor is intended to have similar voltages to each of the other circuit conductors, and similar phase spacing. As stated in [1] by this definition a circuit must have at least three wires for one to serve as a neutral.
However, in the electrical trade, in a 2-wire circuit, the conductor that is connected back to the supply neutral point is also referred to as the "neutral"; this is formally described in the US and Canadian electrical codes as the "identified" circuit conductor. If the entire system is only single phase then the current carrying conductor that is tied to earth is still a neutral by this definition.
all in all........Greys definition will do for me...I try not to define it I try to explain what it does and why it is needed...lol
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Paul W. Abernathy- NACHI Certified
Electrical Service Specialists
Licensed Master Electrician
Electrical Contractor
President of NACHI Central Virginia Chapter
NEC Instructor
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