In article .com, wrote:
" If two points are at the same potential, it is _impossible_ for
there
to be any current flowing between them, without regard to the number
or location of faults in the circuit. "

"By this principle, no shorted conductors can carry current. "

Did you even take basic high school science? If you take a short piece
of wire and connect a dead short from hot to neutral, the conductors
are then not at the same potential. The huge current flow through the
wire equals the potential difference. If we had a perfect 120V voltage
source that could supply any amount of current and connect a short
piece of wire to it, the voltage across the wire will be 120V for the
brief time until it melts. In the real world, the voltage would be
less, but still substantial. And the remaining voltage which would
still add to 120V would be distributed along the supply wires due to
their resistance. Class dismissed!

Cut poor Richard some slack. He's not from around here. Richard comes from a
planet with some really unusual chemistry, where (according to his posts) it's
safe to drink gasoline and breathe carbon monoxide, but common household borax
is a deadly poison. Apparently, electricity doesn't work quite the same way on
his planet as it does here, either.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

Nobody ever left footprints in the sands of time by sitting on his butt.
And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?