Hi, guys. Newbie here. And I have to start out with a question that has very little to do with electronics; it's all about wiring my workshop. I've arrived at a crossroads and I'm a bit stumped...
OK, so Alternating Current (AC) in the United States is wired to a standard 120V application (outlet, lamp socket, etc.) with a hot wire (black), a netural wire (white) and a ground wire (bare). Easy enough. So why is it that a 240V application (like a clothes dryer, air conditioner, etc.) can be wired with 2 hot wires and the bare ground, with NO neutral wire whatever?
I understand the 2 x 120V phases that distinguish 240V from 120V. I'm not interested in sine waves or Ohm's perspectives or the law according to Voltaire and blah blah. I'm just wondering:
If the neutral wire isn't necessary for 240V applications then is it actually necessary for 120? And if so, then why isn't it needed for 240?
What exactly is the purpose of the netural wire? Is is just essentially another ground wire?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
OK, so Alternating Current (AC) in the United States is wired to a standard 120V application (outlet, lamp socket, etc.) with a hot wire (black), a netural wire (white) and a ground wire (bare). Easy enough. So why is it that a 240V application (like a clothes dryer, air conditioner, etc.) can be wired with 2 hot wires and the bare ground, with NO neutral wire whatever?
I understand the 2 x 120V phases that distinguish 240V from 120V. I'm not interested in sine waves or Ohm's perspectives or the law according to Voltaire and blah blah. I'm just wondering:
If the neutral wire isn't necessary for 240V applications then is it actually necessary for 120? And if so, then why isn't it needed for 240?
What exactly is the purpose of the netural wire? Is is just essentially another ground wire?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
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