What is the use of neutral wire?

Answer 1

The neutral wire is a return wire for the current in an electrical circuit. Do not confuse for the ground wire which is also a return wire but is used in the event the connected appliance shorts to protect the user from electrical shock. The neutral is actually very similar to the ground, though. In a residence the neutral comes from the power plant, whereas the ground comes from a ground rod below the meter. In most older homes the ground and neutral were connected to the same bar in the breaker box. In newer homes they now have separate bars. Here is something interesting about the neutral wire. If you are testing a live circuit using a static checker, the neutral will not show a charge, only the hot wire will. However, if you had a circuit controlling some device (maybe a light fixture) and the light fixture was in the on position, but the neutral was cut you would notice the two wires slightly sparking when you touch them together. If you were to complete this circuit with your body you will get shocked or electrocuted. If the device were in the off position you would be safe, but don't take any chances when working with electricity. Turn off the power first.

Answer 2

I'm pretty sure it's there to bond your outlet to your electrical panel.

Not really,

Bonding is part of grounding which refers to the metalic frames of electrical componets; ground wires do not normally carry current; they only carry current in a fault situation

The NEUTRAL is one of the circuit conductors. The NEUTRAL wire in structures is "grounded" once at the main service (or separate source like transformer) so, therefore, its voltage "to ground" is zero or close to zero.

Most electrical distribution in the USA uses Transformers that provide two voltages in the customer location. In residential usages it is commonly refered to 110 volts and 220 volts (although the actual voltages will vary slightly depending on your utility company).

The 220 volt circuits are obtained by using two PHASE wires (aka hot-legs)

The 110 volt circuits are obtained by using one phase wire and the NEUTRAL

Answer 3

In a circuit, you have a hot wire, a neutral wire, and a ground wire, or you should have a ground wire. Before the 1960s, the ground wire was not required. An electric circuit is called a circuit because it has to be a circuit. The electrons have to come back to where they started. If there is a break, they stop moving. It is like a traffic jam. The difference is that if there is a break at any point it is more like a traffic jam with airplanes. If an airplane can not land, it does not take off. If you break the hot wire, the black wire, you will not have the circuit completed. The electricity to the device will not start the machinery or turn on the light. If you disconnect the neutral wire, The electricity will not return from the device or light bulb. The light bulb will turn off. You can think of the neutral line as the sewer line. You can think of the ground line as the ground. If either line overflows, in an emergency, you want it on the ground and not in the house. Still, you do not want it on the ground!

For more information see the answers to the Related Questions shown below.

Answer 4

The neutral closes the circuit. It is connected from the down stream side of the load to the service supply neutral connection point. The upstream side of the load is where the "hot" wire is connected.

Answer 5

for single phase 220v/110v control from three phase

Answer 6

On both a single phase and three phase system the neutral is used to carry the unbalanced load current.