On Nov 23, 6:36*pm, "Phil Allison" wrote:
"Trevor Wilson"



**AFAIK, the US system is fundamentally different to ours.

** In the US and Canada *- * it is *NOT *permitted to link neutral and earth
or plumbing within a premises.

See here under the heading "Regulations".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthing_system

The MEN system used here in Australia seems to be unique.

See last para on same page.

..... *Phil

Rubbish. In most of Canada, it is manditory that the neutral be bonded
to earth at only ONE point, the service entrance switch enclosure.
From that point an earth conductor is connected to 2 ground rods and
to any metallic piping system(s).
Neutral failure is a not uncommon problem especially with overhead
aluminum 'triplex' service drops. A seagull deficates on the bare
aluminum neutral and it soon rots off leaving an open neutral
condition.
Ground rod to earth resistances of 5 ohms are not uncommon, so a 10A
unbalance between 'phases' could give a 50V offset of the neutral.

Neil S.