120/240V Single Phase 3 Wire Explanation And Demonstration

High Voltage!

[fratomdev]

Great demo, you scarred the crap out of me half the time. I was an electrician on a sub and got shocked way too many times. Thanks

[gblargg]

THIS guy collects utility equipment. I saved a few bell insulators and others over the years from when I was little, but damn this stuff is nice.

[electriciants]

Cool set up. Good thing the charger is rated for 120/240 volts. Otherwise it would have fried. Nice demonstration on the open neutral. A lot of people dont know just how important the neutral wire is, especially when its being shared by two separate 120 volt phases.

[mikejohnson]

Holy cow, this is badass. I'm glad someone went and made this video with actual energized transformers and explained everything PERFECTLY. I wish I had come across this video sooner as I had many questions about how the service transformers are wired and how the current flows and why one side of the primary winding being bonded directly to ground potential doesn't result in a dead short. I also like how you dabble into broken neutral connections. I was hoping you'd disconnect the neutral from the primary side of the transformer...naw just joking! Superb video man!

[joegreeneUSA]

Love the vid. I got here researching the current carrying neutral argument. Here's the story in brief.

My neighborhood is zoned C1 (commercial/residential) and the street recently got new, single-bushing xformers. My neighbor marveled that the new xformers were powered from a, "single wire". I agreed that only one high tension wire is connected but, "that the ground wire" must be, "the second wire" to the primary. He said, "no" because he and two linemen already discussed that voltage comes in on just one wire!!

Fast forward two days later when the two linemen returned. All three laughed at my insistence that the ground has to be carrying current, that it has to be connected to the primary. Then I asked the linemen, "would that transformer work if you were to cut that (pointing up) copper wire going to the can?"  They replied that secondary voltage would change but they didn't  know how much.

Are linemen taught, "current carrying neutral" and just how important the can ground is?? Are residential electricians suppose to be aware of what might be at stake if the linemen didn't properly ground the, "single-bushing" xfmers?

[davids]

I have worked (compently) with electricity since I was a kid, but still had a main sphincter clench with that arc.
That's a good thing - means I still have a healthy respect.

[libertarian]

In the US, at least NY, USA, we have 240V to ground in high leg 3 phase delta systems; this is probably the most popular 3 phase layout for light commercial locations as it allows the use of standard 120V/240V appliances as well as 240V to ground being able to be run with single pole switches, which can save quite a bit over needing dual pole switches.

[VariacManiac]

Thank you for the demonstration, very well informed!

[goose]

I'm both excited and terrified that someone on youtube is fucking with distribution voltage inside their own home. Great video!

[motobacktoconstitution]

Thank you very infomative video.
So 8 amp going mostly going back to utility company though nutro to transfomar line to primary line back to utility company ? After some amp used by heater ?

Only heater will use some for induce to heat all excess going back to utility company sir ?

[tedlahm]

Coming back three (3) years later with another observation/question.

With the Lost Neutral, the L1 and L2 loads would now be in series?
Looking for voltage drop on series circuits, the leg with the HIGHEST
resistance would have the LARGEST voltage (drop) over it?
Thank you.

[earlwilson]

Have u seen Lawrence rayburn patent? 10kw free energy antenna? Barbosa and leal patent? Secondary pulls power from ground?

[rhillzbob]

Man thats a good video . You know your trade

[alchemy]

I like to make sure I understand your wiring on your socket.
In the transformer, we have two hot wires ( I will call them L-1 and L-2), and one neutral in the middle that is also hooked up to ground as well.

You have hooked up the top plug into one side of the panel column hot wire ( L-1 black wire) and the bottom plug to the other column ( L-2 black wire). Is this correct?
If that is correct, I am also wondering what would your tester read at the transformer if you had both plugs hooked up to the same side ( L-1) but each in different breaker switch?
Oh I should also ask if residential power transformers are the additive type you are working with?
Also what would have happened if you unplugged your cell phone, would your heater been running properly or not?
I am assuming your phone and heater was working a little because each was hooked up to different legs, if they were in the same legs they would have turn off with the neutral being removed...???
Thanks.

[joidriyen]

I(short circuit) =240/1.07 =224 amps(for secondary side short circuit current)?

[paulb]

Ground is used as a path back to the source. See Mike Holt videos. Ground and neutral ARE NOT THE SAME. Thanks for this video, very well done!

[mjojo]

That's cool I've always wanted a transformer like that

[SomeTechGuy]

Why are there a bunch of burn marks on the board the plug is mounted to at @14:10 ? LOL
Great video.

[ausban]

cool video, great demo, thanks for sharing

[waltmezynski]

Excellent presentation. I do have a question though. It is common knowledge that a live neutral supplying a return from a device that is under load can be more dangerous than the hot wire because it is carrying current and it is the current that kills. So overthe years I have seen many of the ground wires that come down the pole from a transformer broken and not connected to the ground rod. But I have never seen or heard of anyone fried by this conducter. Is that because the grouinds from transformers are connected together through the cables on the poles?? Once again, this is probably the best visual demo of how this system works.