[RE-wrenches] Fwd: RE: Grid neutral

[Chris Mason]

Power stations use ground return. when we constructed power stations in my
electrical years, we dug extensive trenches filled with copper conductors
to provide the widest earthing system.
In a three phase system,  only the differential current returns to the
power station. That means that there is little current going back.
However, the neutral you see on the pole does not go back to the power
station, it returns to the transformer.


On Nov 27, 2016 22:40, "Allan Sindelar" <allan at sindelarsolar.com> wrote:

> Mark and all,
> Thank you for some very useful replies. You confirmed my understanding.
> You know how a customer can be so sure of (usually) himself...
>
> Mark, I don't care that much about the structure of the utility. But it's
> this customer's understanding of utility structure that got me the
> consulting job for a system that would allow him to disconnect from it.
> Allan
>
> *Allan Sindelar*
> allan at sindelarsolar.com
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
> NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
> New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
> Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc.
> *505 780-2738 <505%20780-2738> cell*
>
>
> On 11/26/2016 8:32 AM, Mark Frye wrote:
>
> Allen,
>
> Back when people used to read books to learn, at least you had to spend
> several hours studying something, then you could be 50% an expert. Now with
> the interwebs, watch only at least the first 20 minutes of a YouTube video
> and you can have an unshakeable conviction in a new belief as truth.
>
> If you are off grid, what do yo care about the structure of the utility
> anyway. None of use use "grid" power directly, but always through some form
> of power transformation.
> Mark
>
>
> On 11/25/2016 5:27 PM, Allan Sindelar wrote:
>
> Wrenches,
> Is there such a thing as a "grid neutral"? I have been providing design
> support to a client for a large off grid system; a prepper, rare in these
> parts. He claims that utility current is carried in part through the ground
> and in part through a neutral conductor, and such a "utility neutral" is
> deliberately undersized. At first I pushed back (see below). Now I just
> wonder what Wrenches more knowledgeable than I am will say.
> Thank you,
> Allan
>
> *Allan Sindelar*
> allan at sindelarsolar.com
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
> NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
> New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
> Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc.
> *505 780-2738 <505%20780-2738> cell*
>
>
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