RE: Household NEUTRAL is not really a return path

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Malcolm Watts" <m.j.watts@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

On 19 Sep 2005, at 12:58, Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "Mark Dunn" <mdunn@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>
> Steve and All:
>
> Doesn't the current flow through both paths?  Each path has a
> different impedence thus some portion of the current flows through
> each path.
>
> I think we typically view the resistance/impedence of a
> "non-conductor" as infinite and thus assume no current flows through
> it.  At the voltages and frequencies we operate, everything is a
> conductor and the relative resistance/impedence between those
> conductors determines the amount of current that flows through each.
> Right?
>
> Mark

Right. The ground impedance is quite variable depending on moisture
content. The neutral return wire in a household installation in NZ is
typically smaller than the phase feed wire since there is current
sharing by design between the neutral wire and the ground stake.

Malcolm


>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Friday, September 16, 2005 1:32 PM
> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: Household NEUTRAL is not really a return path
>
>
> Original poster: Steve Conner <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>   > current does NOT flow
>   > through the shortest
>   > path, or the past of least
>   > resistance.  It flows through the path of least
>   > impedance.
>
> Granted, but I don't understand how a piece of
> sheetrock can have lower impedance than 6ft of copper
> pipe. Unless the sheetrock wall was picking up RF
> (maybe it was the foil backed stuff) and arcing to the
> radiator that was grounded.
>
> Steve
>
>
>