[Main] Function and Purpose of Neutral Wire in Electrical Circuit

The main function and purpose of Neutral Wire in Electrical Circuit is to provide a return path for current in single phase supply. In this article, we will discuss the main function of Neutral Wire and the purpose of neutral wire in Electrical Circuit with a detail explanation.

We know that, generally, we generate, transmit and sometimes distribute electrical power in the form of three phase system. So if we know the basics of the three-phase system, we can easily understand the purpose of neutral wire in the electrical circuit. So let's look at the three-phase system.

Most of the cases, in fact, the most amount of electrical power generating station such as thermal power station, gas power station, hydropower stations uses the three-phase alternator. Those three-phase alternators have a total of three windings at 120 degrees apart inside them. Each winding has two terminals so the total terminals are six.

Now those windings are can be connected in two manners either in Star connection or Delta connection. The winding connections are given below.

As you see in the above figure there is no neutral point in delta connection, so we have taken only the star connection to better understand.

As you see in the above figure, we can get two voltages from the star connection, one is phase voltage and another is line voltage.

We get the phase voltage between a line and neutral. So you may understand what is the uses of the neutral wire. We will not get phase voltage without a neutral wire.

The function of Neutral Wire

So the main functions of Neutral Wire are,

1.      To get the phase voltage from a three-phase supply neutral wire is required because we only get the phase voltage between one line terminal and neutral terminal.

2.      The neutral wire helps to complete the circuit in case of a single phase supply.

3.      Neutral is generally connected to earth to balance the total electrical system and many other important purposes which are already explained in the previous article, Advantages of Earthing. 

4.      The neutral wire helps to measure the voltage across the individual windings inside an alternator. Suppose we want to measure the voltage across a winding of an alternator. So, in this case, we must connect the voltmeter's one terminal to the neutral terminal and another terminal to the rest terminal of that winding. 

Read Also:

• [Actual] Purpose and Function of Earth Wire
• Main Purpose of Using Neutral Grounding Resistor
• Main Difference Between Earthing and Grounding
• [Explained] Does Neutral Wire Give Electrical Shock or Not?

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