Earth point is the point connected locally to ground, i.e. earthed locally at the consumer premises while Neutral point is a point that is connected to ground (earthed) as well but faraway at some point of the power company equipment (e.g. the star point of the secondary stepdown transformer feeding the consumer premises). See the picture that I prepared to illustrate the answer. Hence neutral at consumer premises is ground point at some other company's equipment.
The role of Neutral point (Neutral wire) is to close the circuit and carry the consumer load current (return current) back to the transformer point) while the earth point (earth wire at consumer premises) shall carry no current in normal situations. The earth point (earth wire) is used to bond the metallic chassis of consumer equipment that is isolated from live wires. Hence, the earth wire is used to ensure safety of equipment and personnel in two cases:
-The earth wire will carry (short) currents in case of chassis of the equipment becomes electrified , i.e. a bare live conductor touches the metallic chassis. This short current will trip some circuit breaker in the way immediately.
- The earth wire will carry (Leakage) small currents due to insulation deterioration, humidity and carbon deposit on the insulator. In this case a special breaker called ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker) or RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker) that is calibrated to trip at small currents (of the order of 6-30 mA for residual purposes and 300mA for industrial purposes). Not all electric codes enforces the uses of ELCB's or RCCB's.
Hope you found this answer of value. Thanks. @AlDmour.
The refarance point at zero potential(A.C/D.C both) is called neutral point(impedance not be zero), till it is not connected with ground/earth solidly it consider as floating neutral,earth is taken as refarance at zero potential with zero impedance(Z).
Example of a neutral point is star connect point of 3 phases of a 3phase alternator. (with balanced load)
Earth point is the point connected locally to ground, i.e. earthed locally at the consumer premises while Neutral point is a point that is connected to ground (earthed) as well but faraway at some point of the power company equipment (e.g. the star point of the secondary stepdown transformer feeding the consumer premises). See the picture that I prepared to illustrate the answer. Hence neutral at consumer premises is ground point at some other company's equipment.
The role of Neutral point (Neutral wire) is to close the circuit and carry the consumer load current (return current) back to the transformer point) while the earth point (earth wire at consumer premises) shall carry no current in normal situations. The earth point (earth wire) is used to bond the metallic chassis of consumer equipment that is isolated from live wires. Hence, the earth wire is used to ensure safety of equipment and personnel in two cases:
-The earth wire will carry (short) currents in case of chassis of the equipment becomes electrified , i.e. a bare live conductor touches the metallic chassis. This short current will trip some circuit breaker in the way immediately.
- The earth wire will carry (Leakage) small currents due to insulation deterioration, humidity and carbon deposit on the insulator. In this case a special breaker called ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker) or RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker) that is calibrated to trip at small currents (of the order of 6-30 mA for residual purposes and 300mA for industrial purposes). Not all electric codes enforces the uses of ELCB's or RCCB's.
Hope you found this answer of value. Thanks. @AlDmour.
neutral point is the common point in star connection and is taken as reference for phase voltages.coming to earth point is provided made in all electrical equipment to have low resistance path for excess current and protect the user of equipment from electrical shocks
An Earth point is connected to ground ( infinite sink) by a low resistance path so as to protect persons and electrical m/cs from possible voltage hazard. In case of some some issue/accident with power supply, current passes to ground through earthed wire ( keeping voltage on body equal to near ground)
A Neutral point is the common point from a star connected transformer providing low resistance return path for current. all single phase equipment should use neutral point.
Never connect Neutral and ground together (from safety and system efficiency issues)
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