Bob Mannix wrote:
"AlexW" wrote in message
...

Bob Mannix wrote:

"AlexW" wrote in message
. ..


Bob Eager wrote:


On Wed, 5 Oct 2005 08:53:23 UTC, "blackboab"
wrote:




AC current changes direction 50 times a second


No, it doesn't.


I thought it did actually as Electrons flow from -ve to +ve IIRC, or the
current flows from +ve to -ve in conventional notation.

The live is always energised though with either a +ve or -ve potential
wrt the neutral.


You fell into his little trap! It changes direction 100 times per second,
having a burst in both directions 50 times a second.



Trap?

It still changes 50 times second though for the UK supply, the limits
would be a minimum of 99 to 101 times.


So that would be 100, not 50


AC current could actually change at any frequency.


Well so it could but it *could* also be a 330,000 V AC supply, in which case

Yes, it could.

You snipped the context of the (rest of) the question though and the
response did not really clarify things for the OP.

I wouldn't touch the neutral!

Why not assuming its at the same/similar potential as you?

The context of the question implied a UK domestic supply of 24V 50Hz, where
the current changes direction 100 times per second and the neutral isn't
that dangerous.



In this context I agree that touching neutral should not be deadly or
whatever unless part of you is touching something else at significantly
potential to neutral.

Alex