What does the Neutral Wire Do?

Here I talk about the Neutral wire in residential electric. I am giving you my version of what the neutral wire does in your main electrical panel in your house going back to the transformer.

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[cesarlopez]

Finally someone who is willing to share his knowledge without trying to confuse you in the process.

[jeroldcrawford]

This helped me tremendously. An instructor told me that the electricity goes to the neutral buss. I wanted to know where it went from there. He kept saying it goes the neutral buss and nowhere else on the first panel. I said on the first panel, the ground and the neutral busses are connected - does it go to ground? Answer - no it goes to the neutral buss. He thought I was a complete idiot. There is indeed a return line back to the mains He told me "no It stays in the neutral buss" I knew there had to be a way that it went somewhere instead of just magically disappearing. He thought I was mentally deficient that I could not understand it just went to the neutral buss. Thanks so much for the simple explanation about this. I feel much better knowing I am not crazy in my thinking that their has to be more than the "magic" neutral buss.

[daviddial]

There are different levels of understanding which sound like different answers. When I was in school I asked a wireman to explain things to me. They gave simple (incomplete) answers that helped me to grasp difficult concepts. In time as your understanding gets better your answers and questions become more complete. You can understand what an engineer is trying to say...sometimes. This is a great video that answers a difficult concept in a simple way. Yes, it gets more difficult than this but for the curious beginner it is perfect.

[wagdan]

I like that description of the neutral. Well said without getting too complicated. But I humbly and respectfully submit that so much more goes on with the ground than lighting protection.

[ritawix]

Im at the end of a 5 yr apprenticeship & your video was the first time Ive ever heard a concise, comprehensible definition for the Neutral. So thanks 4 that. BTW, please make more videos so I can get on with my career. lol

[sammylacks]

Thank you for your simple explanation that us non-electric people understand how home current flows.

[deirdre]

That was excellent, clear and concise. Though most of my work was done with DC circuits, I was taught to think of AC neutral as "the return", and that's what I always call it just to keep its real function clear to myself.

[ronjones]

You are absolutely correct about the neutral, and one of the very few explanations that get it right. Excellent job.!

[billhill]

Great explanation Bill! The neutral carries the unbalanced load back to the transformer. I like it!

[anjotre]

It’s the little videos that you find thinking no one has made one for your wondering mind before going to sleep. Thank you.

[perryhertler]

Explaining complex topics in simple terms is a rare skill. Thanks!

[vrontogatos]

You should teach, if not already. It took you 2 minutes, with a simple explanation, everyone got it, and that's it. Excellent. Others would need 15 minutes for the same thing.

[zachsprinkle]

I've been trying to get a straight answer on what a neutral wire does for a while. This was the best, and most simple explanation I've come across. Thank you.

[dragan]

It's a nice explanation I can show to people who say it doesn't matter if you swap active and neutral. I'm like whaaaat?

[richard]

2 minutes and 10 seconds. Short and to the point. by far the best explanation for the neutral I've found. Keep the videos coming

[Sakick]

TY Im just starting me first year electrical and was so confused on what the neutral wire did. This made things click so thank you

[BlackElon]

That's one of the most coherent explanations I've ever heard... Easy and simple to understand... I wish my instructions had your ability to break something like this down, your simple description explains so much... And I'm in my second year as an apprentice with IBEW, and believe me alot of us are still lost as to how it actually works....Thank you

[danstrayer]

I think it is helpful to realize that circuits feeding from one hot leg (L1) are actually in series with those feeding from the L2 leg.
So, ( 2) 120 volt circuits in series are actually 2 separate loads of a 240 volt circuit. The difference between those loads is the current which then flows through the neutral wire. "Balancing" your breaker panel means getting the current draw on one side to approximately match the draw on the other side, minimizing the current through the neutral wire.

[capnbobretired]

I was shocked at the animus expressed in some of these comments. I read them again and I was revolted at the number of pedants here. I’m struggling to stay neutral when I read the angry posts and replies. Were I not so well grounded, I could sense a potential in me to take a side. Ohm my God, I’ve never seen such resistance to a simplified video trying to educate. The detractors with their rancorous comments impede the educational process until finally impedence is too much for the current commenters to overcome. Watt age are you people? I’m sure with some of you this is just a phase, but these constant negative comments should terminate. Take a positive attitude—you conduit.

[robertapierce]

We really enjoy your thoroughness in explaining not just how to do/repair something, but that you explain the theory/reasoning behind how it works. We hope that you have many more videos to come. Thanks so much for helping us homeowners who are clearly neophytes when it comes to home wiring.