Log in
Register
Home
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Featured content
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
News
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Features
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search titles only
By:
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Install the app
Install
Reply to thread
Home
Forums
Low Earth Orbit
Lighting & Electrical
Why An Open Neutral Kills 120V Devices
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Mike Sokol" data-source="post: 59046" data-attributes="member: 1989"><p>Re: Why An Open Neutral Kills 120V Devices</p><p></p><p>There was no fuse, it was the 4/0 (or even larger) bus wire (sorry my bad, only one "s" in bus) itself that failed. The clamping bolt and the busbar had heated up enough to oxidize the copper wire, and once that begins to happen it's basically an avalanche failure since heating begets more oxidation, oxidation begets more resistance, and resistance begets more heating, etc.... (First time I've been able to use "beget" in a post). </p><p></p><p>This was 35 years ago so I don't remember all the details, but the power company came in and gave us a stern warning about unbalanced loads and Triplen currents in 3-phase systems. These were really big pad-mounted transformers the size of a car since they powered a million square foot warehouse with 100K sq ft factory floor. The production manager was not happy when we blew up his plant!!! Lucky for all the 3-phase motors, they don't care if the neutral is disconnected. Florescent lights are a different story.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mike Sokol, post: 59046, member: 1989"] Re: Why An Open Neutral Kills 120V Devices There was no fuse, it was the 4/0 (or even larger) bus wire (sorry my bad, only one "s" in bus) itself that failed. The clamping bolt and the busbar had heated up enough to oxidize the copper wire, and once that begins to happen it's basically an avalanche failure since heating begets more oxidation, oxidation begets more resistance, and resistance begets more heating, etc.... (First time I've been able to use "beget" in a post). This was 35 years ago so I don't remember all the details, but the power company came in and gave us a stern warning about unbalanced loads and Triplen currents in 3-phase systems. These were really big pad-mounted transformers the size of a car since they powered a million square foot warehouse with 100K sq ft factory floor. The production manager was not happy when we blew up his plant!!! Lucky for all the 3-phase motors, they don't care if the neutral is disconnected. Florescent lights are a different story. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Home
Forums
Low Earth Orbit
Lighting & Electrical
Why An Open Neutral Kills 120V Devices
Top
Bottom
Sign-up
or
log in
to join the discussion today!
