The BS7671 definition of PEN is simply about sharing protective and neutral conductor functions; and the definition of protective conductor functions includes connecting an earth electrode to a source neutral point.

In my copy of BS 7671 it seems to be worded slightly differently - mentioning only "The earthed point of the source, or an artificial neutral".


Thus the neutral (star point) of the source could be distinct from the earthed point of the source.


So in my diagram:



it doesn't matter how long the conductor between the star point ("0") and the N-PE link is - it's still just a neutral conductor.


Personally I prefer to think of protective conductors in term of the path of the consumer's connection to Earth - rather than the Earth Fault Loop - as the latter includes the conductors back to the star point - which seems to cause more than its fair share of confusion.


   - Andy,

The BS7671 definition of PEN is simply about sharing protective and neutral conductor functions; and the definition of protective conductor functions includes connecting an earth electrode to a source neutral point.

In my copy of BS 7671 it seems to be worded slightly differently - mentioning only "The earthed point of the source, or an artificial neutral".


Thus the neutral (star point) of the source could be distinct from the earthed point of the source.


So in my diagram:



it doesn't matter how long the conductor between the star point ("0") and the N-PE link is - it's still just a neutral conductor.


Personally I prefer to think of protective conductors in term of the path of the consumer's connection to Earth - rather than the Earth Fault Loop - as the latter includes the conductors back to the star point - which seems to cause more than its fair share of confusion.


   - Andy,