The statement says : PEN conductor is not a live conductor but a conductor carrying an operating current.
The question is: how it is not a live conductor but carrying an operating current?
The statement says : PEN conductor is not a live conductor but a conductor carrying an operating current.
The question is: how it is not a live conductor but carrying an operating current?
The 18th edition of B.S. 7671 on page 39, defines a PEN conductor as, " A conductor combining the functions of both a protective conductor and a neutral conductor."
It is normally earthed at the supply end so is not normally at a potential much above earth potential. If it is disconnected at the supply end it can achieve a potential at or approaching the supply Voltage. This may be due to a fault or breakdown. The live supply will travel through loads and liven the PEN up.
In the U.K. the PEN conductor is terminated at the house cutout where it is initially just one conductor. After that the house installation is supplied by a Line and Neutral supply and separate protective conductors. So inside the house we have three conductors at sockets and most other wiring accessories, Line, neutral and C.P.C. The neutral is then considered to be a live conductor. The neutral conductor is defined as "A conductor connected to the neutral point of a system and contributing to the transmission of electrical energy". It is current carrying.
A line conductor is defined as being: "A conductor of an AC system for the transmission of electrical energy, OTHER THAN A NEUTRAL CONDUCTOR".
So, the LINE conductor runs to loads. Then a NEUTRAL conductor is connected to the other side of the load. Both conductors carry the same current when the load is energised. Touch a bare LINE conductor and you may receive a fatal shock. Touch a NEUTRAL conductor and you may not receive a fatal shock, but it is best NOT to try this test. It may be fatal.
The actual measured Voltage between the neutral conductor in an installation, and true Earth, may be a few Volts due to the resistance of the conductors.
Z.
The 18th edition of B.S. 7671 on page 39, defines a PEN conductor as, " A conductor combining the functions of both a protective conductor and a neutral conductor."
It is normally earthed at the supply end so is not normally at a potential much above earth potential. If it is disconnected at the supply end it can achieve a potential at or approaching the supply Voltage. This may be due to a fault or breakdown. The live supply will travel through loads and liven the PEN up.
In the U.K. the PEN conductor is terminated at the house cutout where it is initially just one conductor. After that the house installation is supplied by a Line and Neutral supply and separate protective conductors. So inside the house we have three conductors at sockets and most other wiring accessories, Line, neutral and C.P.C. The neutral is then considered to be a live conductor. The neutral conductor is defined as "A conductor connected to the neutral point of a system and contributing to the transmission of electrical energy". It is current carrying.
A line conductor is defined as being: "A conductor of an AC system for the transmission of electrical energy, OTHER THAN A NEUTRAL CONDUCTOR".
So, the LINE conductor runs to loads. Then a NEUTRAL conductor is connected to the other side of the load. Both conductors carry the same current when the load is energised. Touch a bare LINE conductor and you may receive a fatal shock. Touch a NEUTRAL conductor and you may not receive a fatal shock, but it is best NOT to try this test. It may be fatal.
The actual measured Voltage between the neutral conductor in an installation, and true Earth, may be a few Volts due to the resistance of the conductors.
Z.
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