Sylvia Else wrote:
Trevor Wilson wrote:

"Sylvia Else" wrote in message
...

Baron wrote:

Meat Plow wrote:

On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:10:26 +1100, Sylvia Else
wrote:

I have to phases of power supply to my house - so three power lines,
two phases plus neutral.

I've on occasion wondered what would happen if we lost the neutral
line. It seems to me that we'd then have the voltage between the two
phases across two sets of appliances, one set attached to one phase,
and the other set attached to the other phase, with the two sets in
series as a result of their common connection to the neutral wire.
Since the two sets are unlikely to represent equal loads, the net
result would be a large overvoltage on one set of appliances.

My electrician says it's not an issue, but I can't see why.

Any thoughts?

Sylvia.

Removing the return leg isn't going to cause problems in a properly
wired US home. Don't know about the UK.

The lights would go out ! Domestic properties usually have just a 240v
single phase feed. Usually you would get a single phase running down
one side of the street and another phase running down the other.

I said I have two phases.


**You are, at this time, discovering the futility of asking a question
that is specific to Australia, in an international group.


Oh, I don't know. I've learnt a fair bit in the process.

Those in the US who really have a split single phase rather than two
phases, would experience much the same effects if they lost the centre
(neutral) link back to the transformer.

Sylvia.
Yes we would, and it's a very exciting effect!