I am a senior technician, self-employed in the PCB manufacturing industry. Back when I was struggling with the difference between ground and neutral, I came up with an analogy using water that helped me better understand. Imagine you had an upstairs laundry room. Of course, there would be a drain in the middle of the floor just in case the washing machine sprung a leak. But, in normal use, the water in the washing machine would go down the intended path through the drain behind the machine. The drain in the floor acts the same as a ground. It's not an active part of the washing machine plumbing but if necessary it can carry the water away to avoid flooding the downstairs. The drain behind the machine acts as the neutral because it is intended to carry the water away in normal operation.
Damn my dude...im an Electrician in GA and never heard a plumbing type of explanation for the Neutral but you are dead on...props to you sir,I'm gona use this on a couple of the older fellas at work!!
I've been in the electrical field for over 5 years now and unfortunately my coworkers and bosses have either been lousy at teaching me things or purposely keeping me ignorant so I can't progress as quickly. It's always driven me crazy not being able to fully understand the basics of electricity and how it all works. Your videos have served me so well, I'm now so much more confident when I'm working and can't begin to show my level of appreciation for all your easy to follow, informative videos. Thank you and please keep up the amazing work. If I could make a suggestion, I would love a detailed video on the steps you would take for installing a subpanel for either residential or commercial use. Regardless, any video you make will surely be great, thank you!!
I can relate as a commercial electrician, I get frustrated by the lack of understanding by the majority of people in the field. The reality is that it's still construction and even though you attract a lot of smart people, it's a dirty and hard job that doesn't pay enough so you have to have a lot of dopes to bend conduit and pull wires. The smart guys that know what's going on usually become alcoholics and spend their free time drinking, not reading engineering books. And the amount of BS theories and principles in the industry are extremely high, so even smart people often have the wrong information if they never studied it in school. Despite the low pay and hard work, I pride myself on knowing everything I can about electrical safety and I try to correct the incorrect information that circulates in the industry. I don't like to argue with old school electricians though so I usually just take an apprentice aside and give them the correct answer when I hear someone telling them the wrong thing. You have to choose your battles and some crusty old journeyman doesn't want to hear that it's not actually magic pixies that reside in the wall holes
Kaos & Michael Not only relate to you both but in everything you said, literally! And in that it’s a bit funny to think we are the only ones go8ng through this very thing that can often be frustrating. I’m not an Electrician, but I’ve worked around them literally my entire 25+ years in plant engineering starting out as a Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) since way back when I was in the U.S. Navy. I was the Mechanical to the Electrical other half or the guys that were. We worked together, we had to, but if was often like that. I got out into the civilian world and stayed in the similar related field in plant engineering and often encountered the same thing. The exception for me was the same guys that came from a military background in the Navy at the company I worked at who took the time and some patience to explain when I was confused. Later and currently I moved on into Process Automations Control Engineering and dealing with a lot of electrical in PLC Controls and dealing with the same things as you both and in learning as it wasn’t what I started my career out in field wise. Learning the ins and out of how Field Devices are wired to Electrical Control Panel and to PLC took a lot of time and understanding and re-explanation by others that had it correctly and really knew what they were talking about or who would take the time to teach you correctly. I understand what you both go through and empathize. So I find solace in these videos as well in explanation as well learning things over again.
I took a home correspondence course before a became a tech at AT&T. I was lucky to get assigned to work with an old timer that really knew what he was doing. But I've also worked with techs that didn't know anything. They didn't know how to use a VOM or how to read diagrams, and had no knowledge of basic electricity. Then you have the really smart techs that won't teach you anything.
Paul, you are the best teacher whom I have ever run across when trying to understand the fundamentals of electricity. I have been trying to learn this concept for years, and for years, NO ONE could teach it to me so easily as you just did in this video. PLEASE do not stop teaching people! Your method of teaching has most likely helped hundreds - if not thousands - of people in search of higher learning!
1:35 i always assumed on a battery with direct current the positive+ side was hot with current travelling outward and the negative= was the ground to complete the loop
I often find, with your videos, that even if I read a title of your video and it sounds like something I’m already confident that I’m familiar with, I still learn something when I watch it. Thank you for such great information. I’m an electrician of about 10 years.
As an electrical PE, it is remarkable how many experienced people cannot explain these concepts simply - or worse those who are stingy with their expertise. Thankfully, I had good mentors. But so many talented individuals at the entry-level don't get the help they need to understand the basics. I see that by reading the comments. I really appreciate your clear explanations and how generous you are with your knowledge. Please keep up the good work!
Yeah, I can never understand why people gatekeep knowledge. There will always be a way to find out what you need even if others try to keep you from it.
Ego is one reason for such a problem. Not have the talent/gift to Teach a concept well is another. A good amount of individuals can be a teacher at a school, but few can be a Good/Effective teacher. There is a big difference. The Individual that creates the videos on this channel is a valuable gem. His videos are verbally top notch and his graphics as well.
Yes most people don't know that a neutral is just the center tap of the transformer and it can carry a voltage potential to ground. Tesla himself was asked about people getting shocked from neutrals and he asked " did you ground it?"( he meant bond the neutral to a grounding electrode), problem solved.
I've tried to understand residential electrical systems for years. My dad keeps trying to teach me, but the neutral wire never made any sense to me, so I would keep forgetting what I was taught. With this simple explanation, everything just clicked into place. Everything makes sense now! Thanks!
This guy explains tons of electrical concepts better in these short little videos than tons of books and most blow hands on the subjects! Love your videos Paul!
This was explained in the clearest manner that I've ever come across. I wish my college professor, back in the day, explained it this way. He was ready to retire, and we were the last class he taught. This was one of those concepts that had eluded me for some reason; for quite awhile. I had an easier time with understanding calculus than this one thing.
After high school, I resisted the thought of doing engineering. But currently, I am a graduated electrical engineer. I think these videos are very powerful for anyone having difficulty on these topics.
Yeah it’s important to remember that everyone has the potential to make a difference. I’m often shocked how negative I can be towards myself, and in those moments I remind myself that no matter where I’m at now, as long as I take charge, I can power through.
After 2 years taking IBEW apprenticeship classes. Was still unclear about much of this.... I can't tell you how much I appreciate the way you've explained this....
Dear Paul, I was never clear how my electrical system worked. Your video enabled me to run a 240V line from my cabin to my shed in the backyard and it WORKED! I also tapped into that line and made a 120V outlet work to run the lights there as well. Thank you for this fantastic elucidation of a very difficult subject to understand. -Paul
I was an electrician for many years here in the UK. I watched this video out of curiosity to see how things were wired up over in America/Canada. No more complex than here really, just different. Thanks alot for the vid.
Probably the best explanation I have heard. This covers a couple pet peeves of mine. For instance, you often hear "Electricity always takes the path of least resistance." No, no it does not. This video does a good job showing people this concept. Another is that people think ground is there to save them. Again no, at least in the direct sense. Excellent video.
What a find …. Your whole site that is ….. This year marks 50 years in Electronics!!! 20+ years career in Air Force as Radar technician which helped me walk into a 25+ year career at The ElectroScience Lab of Ohio State Univ as a Radar Tech and then small jobs on the side!!! I could ….. but I won’t bore you with stories of working with giant tube rectifiers, capacitors, resistors to discrete parts no bigger than salt ….. thank you for keeping this old brain sharp using very concise, factual but also very entertaining methods!!! -signed -RADARMAN
I would like to save this video in my heart forever. I saw a few videos to try to understand this but never got this valuable explanation. You started from very important points to have in mind and then used it through the explanation. Thanks for your work.
This is a fantastic video and explains things very well. The one thing that is potentially not accurate, though, is that in a DC circuit the wire going from the negative terminal of the DC power supply to the negative connection of the load/circuit is called the negative or ground wire, not "hot wire". While it is correct that electrons flow from negative to positive, all voltage (difference in potential) has been dropped across the load or circuit so that there is no voltage at the negative or ground wire. The "hot" wire in a DC circuit is synonymous with the positive wire, or the wire that carries the difference in potential.
This is the best video I've found on the grounding process and the best explanation overall of how the electrical system in homes work. I've been searching for a video like this for over 2 years, thank you for making this.
I been an Electrician for 40 years.. Someone finally shows how it works and why.... Yeah it's a simple explanation..But it sure helps new engineers understand the why part. As America and European have different types.... By the way.. It's why we only bond the Main Service Panel..It's need a path back to the transformer..All other sub panels are not bonded...
Outstanding video. I'm a retire Mechanical Engineer and I needed a quick brush up on electrical principles to work on a few things around the house. This video covered just enough - not too basic but not too extensive.
What a fantastic, informative video. I've done some handy work on my own property for years, and you've taught me more in just 11 minutes than I've learned in the past year. Thank you. Excellent animations and diagrams, too!
These are very good videos, I highly recommend them for simplicity in understanding electricity. Keep in mind that ground rods are used mainly east side of US and in the western states with rock they do not use ground rods but use a ufer ground in which Florida is now requiring them with the Delta ground. A ufer ground is copper wire cadweld to rebar 20' in length and is encased in concrete, i.e. footers, of course this is commercial and not residential.
I work as a Controls Engineer with a primary education in Mechanic Engineerin, so the electrical stuff has alaways been a bit hazy. This was awesome, thank you very much.
I've been an Electrician for a thousand years and I still found this video to be very informative. I also played chess with Michael Faraday and Ben Franklin. They were very good.
One of the best explanations of neutral and ground i’ve heard..Excellent work. TH-cam is a gold mine of amazing content, only one needs to know where to dig or be lucky enough to stumble upon the right channels and content.
Been looking for a good, understandable explanation of a single-phase circuit. I'm really glad I finally found this great video. Nice work and thanks a lot!!!
Great video! It raised 2 questions in my feeble head: 1) Why aren't ground wires insulated? Seems like that could potentially make them useless should they be in contact with something grounded. 2) So what happens when a hot touches a ground? You mentioned it wouldn't trip the breaker, but didn't mention what would happen.
The answer to one, I believe is that ground has no voltage and neither does the ground wire that runs through the house because it is all connected. Any voltage getting on it from, say, a loose power wire would run directly through that wire to the ground. It would have no tendency to move off that wire, so it doesn't need to be insulated.
@@robertbrandywine Sorry, maybe my question wasn't clear. If a ground wire is touching something that is earth grounded, electricity might follow that path rather than returning to the origin. Guess it wouldn't do that since still lower resistance to the origin....answered my own question.
There's a reason I'm a mechanical engineer. Electricity is practically like magic to me. I've always struggled with understanding the concept of grounding. This was an excellent video, I definitely understand it better but I know for sure I'll get confused again 😅
Wow. Thanks for this. I'm fairly knowledgeable with electricity, but I have never seen such a great video simplifying home electricity. You did an exceptional job breaking it down. Great job. You have a new subscriber. 👍
yes, I would like to thank the publisher of this video along with anyone who took part in it. In my short 2 years of being a low voltage electrician (self trained lol), I have never understood the function of the ground wire until now.
Your videos are so very well explained and easily understandable I’d love to see you do a series eventually on Electrical flow with/in 4-20 MA circuits in Industrial Control Panels with PLC’s and Electrical flow to Field Devices wired to them. That would be cool.
Hello, nice presentation. On the subject of Neutrals and Grounds, I’d like to insert something. True, electricity follows the path of least resistance, to a point. To be correct electricity follows all paths available, some carry more current due to less resistance. So, a Neutral Wire in America carry’s the Unbalanced 240 volt current back to the source, ie... generator. The ground in that system will also carry part of the unbalanced load, not as many amps as the neutral only because of resistance, ground wires are allowed to be smaller sized. Make no mistake, if you disconnect a home ground wire from the connection point and connect a multimeter you will read current flow. Just my 2c’s worth, be safe.
In India it’s 220 AC . My electric iron has a small leakage in it’s metal body. This is observed when I disconnect the ground wire. With a three pin plug having phase neutral and ground wire ( we call it earth) the residual current in the metal body travels via ground wire and makes it safe to handle. This shows that the ground wire in house hold circuit always carry some current to earth. This is because of poor insulation in motor of refrigerator, AC,Iron or toaster.
I'm an accountant who just bought a house. I'm not handy at all, but your videos are giving me a (perhaps unearned) sense of confidence that maybe I can do this after all!
As a electrician I always wondered how the ground wire would trip a circuit breaker due to it being hooked up to the neutral in houses but I see due to low resistance it cause the influx in amps cause th breaker to trip very nice 👌🏻
The ground wire never has less resistance. The video is not accurate about that. In many applications the conduit is used as the ground which has a far greater resistance than copper. In larger wire applications (10GA and larger) it is very common to have the ground wire be 2 sizes smaller. It simply needs to hold current for a fraction of a second up to 10x rated load if the ground becomes the return path due to a fault and trip the breaker. It is the same gauge in residential to make it easier to work with.
So if I have a hot and a neutral wire light fixture and I’m trying to attach it to a lighting housing box that has hot, neutral, and exposed ground wire. Should I leave the ground wire not connected and just shove it back in thr box unused? Or should I connect neutral and ground wires all together in same wire clamp? And hot with hot?
@@xzy7196 I thought he could have spent more time on that. Along with how fast electrons go from negative to positive which is a crawl. I've read 1 foot every 20 minutes or so. Yet the current due to so many electrons doing this lazy ride travels at basically the speed of light.
I second @Adnan MX, current exists due to potential difference, and it'll always go from higher potential to lesser potential (Kirchhoff and Ohm laws expand more on this), therefore, one could say that current "flows" from positive (higher potential) to negative (lesser potential). The reason for it to be like this is found in a subatomic level, where electrons flow towards a positively biased charge and are repelled from a negatively biased charge (ie battery terminals). Every time an electron moves towards the positive charge, a "blank slot" is left behind in its previous place, having this "slot" populated by the next electron being attracted towards the positive charge. Since every time electrons move they'll leave a "blank slot" in their previous positions, one will easily notice that a given "slot" will appear to be moving from the positive charge towards the negative charge, whereas electrons will appear to be moving in the opposite way. This "blank slot moving" behaviour is described as current, therefore, the reason for it to be represented in the previously described way.
yea, and I hope that it was just an editing mistake in the animation when the neutral and ground were connected to the positive terminal on the battery.
That is a very good explanation of a three wire AC branch circuit and the fundamentals of residential electrical services. The only suggestion I would make is replace the word "resistance" with "impedance", as you are utilizing an AC system electrical circuit. Again, excellent tutorial for electricians, engineers and curious tinkers.
If internet existed when I was a boy, I would follow my father steps and become an electric engineer.(because he died when I was a child, so, could not show me this fascinating world himself). Really nice videos.thumbs up, and you have anew follower.
You should also consider being an electrician. Being an engineer is hard, both in terms of finding a job and doing the job. Electrician work is more plentiful, and its application is completely hands-on.
So if you look up electron flow theory vs conventional flow theory it will explain it more. When elec first found we believed it flowed from pos to neg aka conventional flow theory. Butttt we later found out it actually flows from neg to pos aka electron flow theory. Whatever way you want to look at it, it doesn’t change the function on the circuit
Not to be that guy but ground wires are never less resistance than neutral. Commercial wiring you generally use the conduit which has far greater resistance than copper. In house wiring they use the same gauge so it is easier to work with. Anything larger than 12GA will generally have a ground conductor up to 2 sizes smaller (6 Gauge generally has an 8 Gauge ground). The design is to provide 10x rated current flow for enough time to trip the breaker. So yes path back to the bonding bar but not because it has less resistance.
Hmm that doesn't make sense. Wouldn't copper be a better choice for ground? Is it possible that pure copper is attached to conduit when it goes into the ground?
@@EngineeringMindset You're making this worse. The "path" will always be the least resistant under Kirchoff law the lesser resistant path carry less current the higher resistant path will carry less current.
@@j5892000 generally grounding rods are a copper coated steal, nickel or even galvanized. But that is Earth ground. At the box it will just galvanized steal where conduit is used as the ground. It does not need to efficiently carry current it is for safety. In residential it is wire and in smaller branches the same gauge so you don't have to have different size connectors. If you look inside a light fixture the ground is usually a tiny piece of braided copper. As mentioned just enough to carry up to 10x rated load for a fraction of a second to trip the breaker in a fault condition.
@@GH-oi2jf ah so does the conduit work fine due to the voltage being high enough to overcome the resistance like over head powerlines that are made of aluminum and carry high voltage or is it just the fact that its metal And the electricity has no other path to use anyways when going ground?
As a mechanical engineer I took circuit analysis and the professor never talked about a neutral wire. We only ever talk about the terminals of a source. One being at a higher potential and the other being ground (0V). I did learn a lot from this video.
What happens if you treat the neutral like the ground? Goes to the same place ultimately. My best guess why we don't do that is because every line has resistance, and the more current flowing the larger the voltage difference between neutral at the appliance and "true" ground, and it will tingle every time you touch a (pseudo-) grounded portion of the appliances. The shower head at my old apartment always felt like it was stabbing my finger a little bit every time I showered. Measured about 1V AC when wet.
How curious. Here in Brazil I was told to never connect the ground rod to the neutral wire, as it would be a bad and unsafe pratice. Never got a decent explanation, but yours make sense.
This is great but I have one criticism: in a DC circuit, although electrons *do* travel from the negative to the positive, we tend to ignore that and imagine that it is the other way around. And I'd prefer to call the terminals positive and negative in electrical circuits and for digital logic/electronics it's usually high and low or 5/12/3.3v/power and ground.
@@EngineeringMindset not exactly I'm just staring the convention. I'm not saying you *should* do anything and anyway I don't really know what I'm talking about tbh.
1024 The electron flow model (negative to positive) is thanks to Rutherford's model of the atom, where electons are assigned a negative charge and protons positive. The current flow model (positive to negative) was, I believe, thanks to Edison, who likely knew nothing about atoms. It's too bad a consensus between the two models hasn't been decided upon.
I cut a wire that I thought was disconnected about 10 years ago outside in my garden after I watered and was barefoot. I could barely released my hand after about 5 or 10 sec. Oh yeah, and the diagonal cutters were old school uninsulated one. I pretty much did everything wrong and now have a healthy respect for these videos
L’ ho sempre detto che siete un gradino sopra a noi italiani! In un video ho trovato la spiegazione che stavo cercando da mesi!Compimenti per la spiegazione e grazie!
By convention, If you have a wire and a positive current is measured going from left to right in the wire, then electrons are moving right to left (opposite direction) in the wire. This is how the convention defined. In his example with the battery and light bulb, a positive current will be measured coming out of the positive terminal (cathode) of the battery, through the light bulb, and back into the negative terminal (anode). Electrons are moving the opposite direction as he shows it. Learn more about it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_current
6:53 The ground wire doesn't have less resistance than the neutral wire, generally. In fact some circuits will have a smaller gauge ground wire than those that normally carry current.
I think the author was confused because most ground faults where the hot touches the casing will carry much larger currents than normal operation. This is just because the hot is touching the casing directly and not going through a highly resistive load like a light bulb.
Thank you for creating easily understandable educational videos like this, I have just been motivated to get an electrical engineering course. Keep up the good work. Really love it.
Great way of explaining. I didn’t realize that the neutral only carries the difference of the current. One word about ground wires, I’ve learned not to trust them and be careful disconnecting them because if someone is using a ground wire to carry current, it can go to full potential once it’s disconnected. So never assume a ground wire doesn’t have voltage, especially when you disconnect it.
thanks so much for this. I'm about 8 weeks in a 17 week electricity for hvar course and we never talked about this because my teacher assumed everyone knew it and after having to rebuild my electric baseboard 3 times and blowing up a transformer i just now know what these wires are and how to connect them. i wish i saw these videos before i started the class but at least once i try and rebuild my board for the fourth time now I'll understand what the wires are for and why they matter (and hopefully not blow anything else up)
@@EngineeringMindset I appreciate it I've been working in HVAC for 2 years now and your videos have helped a ton. I've learned a lot since my first comment but I'm always looking for ways to improve and learn. I'll watch your new video when I can.
This DIY'er thought he knew stuff. After watching some of your more advanced videos, I've realized I needed to come back and watch some of your basics too. They're all high quality, well thought, and well made stuff. Thank you.
Great videos! Thanks for the content! One thing, (minor -nitpicky even) the 2 single pole breakers you have on the diagram are actually on the same phase in the breaker box which would mean 35 or 30 amps (depending on which scenario you're speaking of with amperage to each device) being carried back on the neutral?
At the end you said if a hot wire came in contact with a ground rod, "electricity would flow through the soil back to the transformer". But it makes no sense because the ground rod is also conected to the neutral bus bar at the breaker box. Therefore, if a hot wire comes in contact with a ground rod, electricity should just flow from the ground rod, to and through the neutral bus bar, back to the transformer, since that's the path of least resistance compared to flowing through the soil.
@@miguelac6872 That's exactly what happens when hot wires come in contact with ground wires: Amparage increases beacause of low resistance, creating a short circuit and tripping the breakers because electricity flows from the hot wire to the ground wire, back to the neutral bus bar and then to the transformer. It's the same thing that shoud happen when the hot wire comes in contact with a ground rod, since ground rods are also connected to the neutral bus bar at the main panel.
@@F.J._Claes suppose that we have unbalance phases in our electrical system, as a result our neutral wire carries certain amount of current back to the source let's say 20 A with 5 V to the transformer. Why do engineers say that connecting that neutral wire to a ground rod on the transformer will cause the neutral to be 0 V? Isn't voltage suppose to be energy per charged particle? If so, then how come those 20 A can make it to the transformer? Like with what energy per charged particle can those electrons get to the transformer if their potencial energy was taken ? I hope you can undestand my point and help me out with this question that nobody in colombia knows how respond to.
I learned it both ways (electron current flow and conventional current flow). I prefer to use electron current flow, probably because that's what I've used at work for more than 43 years. Yes, the hand rules are the opposite, but either way works fine. In certain applications, I find it more convenient to visualize what the electrons are doing. In vacuum tubes, the thermionic emission, and grid control is electrons. In semiconductors, I use both electron flow and hole flow. In magnetic circuits, for motion, flux, and current, I use the hand rules based on electron flow. I guess it's what ever you get used to. Either way works. I've noticed that physics likes to use conventional current flow, whereas much engineering uses electron current flow. Most of my schooling used electron current flow. The US Navy Electricity and Electronics Training Series (NEETS) was developed for use by personnel in many electrical and electronic related Navy ratings. It uses electron current flow throughout all the manuals for consistency.
All i know is if I connect the red probe of my meter to the negative contact and the black probe to the positive contact i will receive a Negative reading on the screen KISS
Very clear explanation, congrats, I will install a refrigeration cabinet with some 120 VAC instruments inside, I build the three point ac plug acording with the position of hot, neutral and ground, and was trying to understand the connection of ground with 120 VAC derived from threephasic 220 VAC + ground, now is clear, thankyou very much.
Very NICE... I don't usually bother with thing's I can't see... I know, the meter allows me to see it.. I'm a little more comfortable, and ALOT more informed.. Thank you so MUCH...
Unless a ground fault exists, the ground wire doesn’t form a circuit because it isn’t actually connected to anything. Also, neutral wires have no voltage, which is what makes them neutral. I find it helpful to think of the current in terms of air flow. The AC supply on one of the hot wires repeatedly “blows” electricity through the wire, then “sucks” it back. You can think of the neutral, with its connections to the physical ground neutralizing its voltage, as being a “vent” or supply of air at atmospheric pressure. All it does is supply electrons to be sucked in or a place for blown out electrons to go.
*We just published a new* Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I am a senior technician, self-employed in the PCB manufacturing industry. Back when I was struggling with the difference between ground and neutral, I came up with an analogy using water that helped me better understand. Imagine you had an upstairs laundry room. Of course, there would be a drain in the middle of the floor just in case the washing machine sprung a leak. But, in normal use, the water in the washing machine would go down the intended path through the drain behind the machine. The drain in the floor acts the same as a ground. It's not an active part of the washing machine plumbing but if necessary it can carry the water away to avoid flooding the downstairs. The drain behind the machine acts as the neutral because it is intended to carry the water away in normal operation.
Great way to remember !
Thank u
Damn my dude...im an Electrician in GA and never heard a plumbing type of explanation for the Neutral but you are dead on...props to you sir,I'm gona use this on a couple of the older fellas at work!!
God Bless you sir!
Sweet!!! Now we know. This should be pinned
I've been in the electrical field for over 5 years now and unfortunately my coworkers and bosses have either been lousy at teaching me things or purposely keeping me ignorant so I can't progress as quickly. It's always driven me crazy not being able to fully understand the basics of electricity and how it all works. Your videos have served me so well, I'm now so much more confident when I'm working and can't begin to show my level of appreciation for all your easy to follow, informative videos. Thank you and please keep up the amazing work. If I could make a suggestion, I would love a detailed video on the steps you would take for installing a subpanel for either residential or commercial use. Regardless, any video you make will surely be great, thank you!!
I can relate as a commercial electrician, I get frustrated by the lack of understanding by the majority of people in the field. The reality is that it's still construction and even though you attract a lot of smart people, it's a dirty and hard job that doesn't pay enough so you have to have a lot of dopes to bend conduit and pull wires. The smart guys that know what's going on usually become alcoholics and spend their free time drinking, not reading engineering books. And the amount of BS theories and principles in the industry are extremely high, so even smart people often have the wrong information if they never studied it in school. Despite the low pay and hard work, I pride myself on knowing everything I can about electrical safety and I try to correct the incorrect information that circulates in the industry. I don't like to argue with old school electricians though so I usually just take an apprentice aside and give them the correct answer when I hear someone telling them the wrong thing. You have to choose your battles and some crusty old journeyman doesn't want to hear that it's not actually magic pixies that reside in the wall holes
Kaos & Michael Not only relate to you both but in everything you said, literally! And in that it’s a bit funny to think we are the only ones go8ng through this very thing that can often be frustrating. I’m not an Electrician, but I’ve worked around them literally my entire 25+ years in plant engineering starting out as a Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) since way back when I was in the U.S. Navy. I was the Mechanical to the Electrical other half or the guys that were. We worked together, we had to, but if was often like that. I got out into the civilian world and stayed in the similar related field in plant engineering and often encountered the same thing. The exception for me was the same guys that came from a military background in the Navy at the company I worked at who took the time and some patience to explain when I was confused. Later and currently I moved on into Process Automations Control Engineering and dealing with a lot of electrical in PLC Controls and dealing with the same things as you both and in learning as it wasn’t what I started my career out in field wise. Learning the ins and out of how Field Devices are wired to Electrical Control Panel and to PLC took a lot of time and understanding and re-explanation by others that had it correctly and really knew what they were talking about or who would take the time to teach you correctly. I understand what you both go through and empathize. So I find solace in these videos as well in explanation as well learning things over again.
Check this book: Elementary lectures on electric discharges, waves and impulses, and other transients by Steinmetz, Charles Proteus
I took a home correspondence course before a became a tech at AT&T. I was lucky to get assigned to work with an old timer that really knew what he was doing. But I've also worked with techs that didn't know anything. They didn't know how to use a VOM or how to read diagrams, and had no knowledge of basic electricity. Then you have the really smart techs that won't teach you anything.
Some don't want to teach you, they want their bosses to look up to them and favor them.
Paul, you are the best teacher whom I have ever run across when trying to understand the fundamentals of electricity.
I have been trying to learn this concept for years, and for years, NO ONE could teach it to me so easily as you just did in this video.
PLEASE do not stop teaching people! Your method of teaching has most likely helped hundreds - if not thousands - of people in search of higher learning!
By now, it looks like maybe millions of people!
1:35 i always assumed on a battery with direct current the positive+ side was hot with current travelling outward and the negative= was the ground to complete the loop
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I often find, with your videos, that even if I read a title of your video and it sounds like something I’m already confident that I’m familiar with, I still learn something when I watch it. Thank you for such great information.
I’m an electrician of about 10 years.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
As an electrical PE, it is remarkable how many experienced people cannot explain these concepts simply - or worse those who are stingy with their expertise. Thankfully, I had good mentors.
But so many talented individuals at the entry-level don't get the help they need to understand the basics. I see that by reading the comments. I really appreciate your clear explanations and how generous you are with your knowledge. Please keep up the good work!
Yeah, I can never understand why people gatekeep knowledge. There will always be a way to find out what you need even if others try to keep you from it.
Ego is one reason for such a problem. Not have the talent/gift to Teach a concept well is another. A good amount of individuals can be a teacher at a school, but few can be a Good/Effective teacher. There is a big difference.
The Individual that creates the videos on this channel is a valuable gem. His videos are verbally top notch and his graphics as well.
Stingy because you will take all the jobs all over the world and leave them broke. 😅
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
You just explained the difference between neutral and ground better then anyone in my school OR my work. THANK you.
Glad you enjoyed
Yes most people don't know that a neutral is just the center tap of the transformer and it can carry a voltage potential to ground.
Tesla himself was asked about people getting shocked from neutrals and he asked " did you ground it?"( he meant bond the neutral to a grounding electrode), problem solved.
Exactly. I always asked this to my professors/coworkers and what they all said sounded like they didn’t even know either.
@Klik B Those that can't do..teach.
@@billwilson3665 And those that can't do can't do because they were never taught. ;)
I've tried to understand residential electrical systems for years. My dad keeps trying to teach me, but the neutral wire never made any sense to me, so I would keep forgetting what I was taught. With this simple explanation, everything just clicked into place. Everything makes sense now! Thanks!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
As a visual learner and an engineer, I truly appreciate these videos.
Electrical engineer?
No such thing as a visual learner. A common myth.
@@townley1017 This was the comment I expected to see here lol
@@raymondsolomon2546 you agree haha? 😂
Call it what you like, but you can talk to me all day and it doesn’t sink in. Show me a video like this one and (pun intended) the light goes on !!!
The best example of the flow of current I've seen in my 50 years of being electrician
This comment made this 20 year electrician watch this video. Thank you.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
This guy explains tons of electrical concepts better in these short little videos than tons of books and most blow hands on the subjects! Love your videos Paul!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
This was explained in the clearest manner that I've ever come across.
I wish my college professor, back in the day, explained it this way. He was ready to retire, and we were the last class he taught.
This was one of those concepts that had eluded me for some reason; for quite awhile. I had an easier time with understanding calculus than this one thing.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
After high school, I resisted the thought of doing engineering. But currently, I am a graduated electrical engineer. I think these videos are very powerful for anyone having difficulty on these topics.
Yeah it’s important to remember that everyone has the potential to make a difference. I’m often shocked how negative I can be towards myself, and in those moments I remind myself that no matter where I’m at now, as long as I take charge, I can power through.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I just wanted to say thanks, I’m in school to be an electrician and the simple theory lessons have really helped.
Glad it helped, good luck
You deserve to be accredited so you can be giving tests and certifications with information like this. IM SUPER GRATEFUL!!!!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I'm shocked!
But on a serious note , even though i am not an electrician or going to be , these information is always good to have in my brain
Well spotted 😉 and glad you enjoyed
I have learned more in 10 minutes about this stuff than I have from school or books in the past 10 years. Wow! Thanks!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
After 2 years taking IBEW apprenticeship classes. Was still unclear about much of this.... I can't tell you how much I appreciate the way you've explained this....
Why is positive wire earthing out on negative earth on izuzu mu
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Dear Paul, I was never clear how my electrical system worked. Your video enabled me to run a 240V line from my cabin to my shed in the backyard and it WORKED! I also tapped into that line and made a 120V outlet work to run the lights there as well. Thank you for this fantastic elucidation of a very difficult subject to understand. -Paul
That would be so illegal where I live. We're not even allowed to hook up a new socket in the house, that's reserved for electricians.
Bad idea.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I was an electrician for many years here in the UK. I watched this video out of curiosity to see how things were wired up over in America/Canada. No more complex than here really, just different. Thanks alot for the vid.
Probably the best explanation I have heard. This covers a couple pet peeves of mine. For instance, you often hear "Electricity always takes the path of least resistance." No, no it does not. This video does a good job showing people this concept. Another is that people think ground is there to save them. Again no, at least in the direct sense. Excellent video.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
omg THANK YOU! Up until 11 minutes ago, I had been trying to understand this for YEARS!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
What a find …. Your whole site that is ….. This year marks 50 years in Electronics!!! 20+ years career in Air Force as Radar technician which helped me walk into a 25+ year career at The ElectroScience Lab of Ohio State Univ as a Radar Tech and then small jobs on the side!!! I could ….. but I won’t bore you with stories of working with giant tube rectifiers, capacitors, resistors to discrete parts no bigger than salt ….. thank you for keeping this old brain sharp using very concise, factual but also very entertaining methods!!!
-signed
-RADARMAN
Check out NEW resistor video, everything covered! ➡️ th-cam.com/video/DYcLFHgVCn0/w-d-xo.html
I would like to save this video in my heart forever. I saw a few videos to try to understand this but never got this valuable explanation. You started from very important points to have in mind and then used it through the explanation. Thanks for your work.
You could save the video in a TH-cam playlist.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
This is a fantastic video and explains things very well. The one thing that is potentially not accurate, though, is that in a DC circuit the wire going from the negative terminal of the DC power supply to the negative connection of the load/circuit is called the negative or ground wire, not "hot wire". While it is correct that electrons flow from negative to positive, all voltage (difference in potential) has been dropped across the load or circuit so that there is no voltage at the negative or ground wire. The "hot" wire in a DC circuit is synonymous with the positive wire, or the wire that carries the difference in potential.
Thanks. The pic at 1:49 messed me all up.
The hot line in DC is the positive.The negative is called ground.There is no actual ground (earth) in a DC circuit as negative is always zero volts.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
This is the best video I've found on the grounding process and the best explanation overall of how the electrical system in homes work. I've been searching for a video like this for over 2 years, thank you for making this.
Hit that sub button there's more coming
Did electrical courses twice....
Only now I've learnt something watching this. Excellent explanations 👍👍
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I been an Electrician for 40 years.. Someone finally shows how it works and why.... Yeah it's a simple explanation..But it sure helps new engineers understand the why part. As America and European have different types....
By the way.. It's why we only bond the Main Service Panel..It's need a path back to the transformer..All other sub panels are not bonded...
Check the new *SUB PANEL EXPLAINED* ➡️ video th-cam.com/video/NUSNa-7Hecw/w-d-xo.html
Outstanding video. I'm a retire Mechanical Engineer and I needed a quick brush up on electrical principles to work on a few things around the house. This video covered just enough - not too basic but not too extensive.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
This is so much better than sitting in a class.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
What a fantastic, informative video. I've done some handy work on my own property for years, and you've taught me more in just 11 minutes than I've learned in the past year. Thank you. Excellent animations and diagrams, too!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
These are very good videos, I highly recommend them for simplicity in understanding electricity. Keep in mind that ground rods are used mainly east side of US and in the western states with rock they do not use ground rods but use a ufer ground in which Florida is now requiring them with the Delta ground. A ufer ground is copper wire cadweld to rebar 20' in length and is encased in concrete, i.e. footers, of course this is commercial and not residential.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
As a visual learner and an engineer, I truly appreciate these videos.. As a visual learner and an engineer, I truly appreciate these videos..
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I work as a Controls Engineer with a primary education in Mechanic Engineerin, so the electrical stuff has alaways been a bit hazy.
This was awesome, thank you very much.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I've been an Electrician for a thousand years and I still found this video to be very informative. I also played chess with Michael Faraday and Ben Franklin. They were very good.
I hope this comment blows up
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
One of the best explanations of neutral and ground i’ve heard..Excellent work. TH-cam is a gold mine of amazing content, only one needs to know where to dig or be lucky enough to stumble upon the right channels and content.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Been looking for a good, understandable explanation of a single-phase circuit. I'm really glad I finally found this great video. Nice work and thanks a lot!!!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Great video! It raised 2 questions in my feeble head: 1) Why aren't ground wires insulated? Seems like that could potentially make them useless should they be in contact with something grounded. 2) So what happens when a hot touches a ground? You mentioned it wouldn't trip the breaker, but didn't mention what would happen.
The answer to one, I believe is that ground has no voltage and neither does the ground wire that runs through the house because it is all connected. Any voltage getting on it from, say, a loose power wire would run directly through that wire to the ground. It would have no tendency to move off that wire, so it doesn't need to be insulated.
@@robertbrandywine Sorry, maybe my question wasn't clear. If a ground wire is touching something that is earth grounded, electricity might follow that path rather than returning to the origin.
Guess it wouldn't do that since still lower resistance to the origin....answered my own question.
@@okaro6595 Not to be rude, but your reply made no sense.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I'm a garland has never thought I would interested in this VDO but watch the video from beginning to end and then subscribe to your TH-cam channel.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
This is a level 11 genius presentation! Awesome.
I am an electrical engineer and can only dream of being able to communicate this well.
Graduated last year as an EE, and can definitely say I barely learned anything as well as this video, thank God I found this TH-cam Channel.
@@UR4AnEpicF4il how has obtaining a job after graduation been?
There's a reason I'm a mechanical engineer. Electricity is practically like magic to me. I've always struggled with understanding the concept of grounding. This was an excellent video, I definitely understand it better but I know for sure I'll get confused again 😅
lol
See our new video on how to build mechanical versions of electronic circuits? Watch here: th-cam.com/video/Zv9Q7ih48Uc/w-d-xo.html
Wow. Thanks for this. I'm fairly knowledgeable with electricity, but I have never seen such a great video simplifying home electricity. You did an exceptional job breaking it down. Great job. You have a new subscriber. 👍
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
yes, I would like to thank the publisher of this video along with anyone who took part in it. In my short 2 years of being a low voltage electrician (self trained lol), I have never understood the function of the ground wire until now.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Supported my first TH-camr today. Your videos have been super useful to me. Bought a coffee mug. Thanks Paul.
Thank you, Steven. Your support is much appreciated. Glad you enjoy the content!
You made a TH-cam channel 13 years ago and this is your first one you support?
My body has completed a circuit a number of times.
Do you know the wattage you are rated sir?😁
@@markanthonyvaldez4517 Maybe he is still experimenting on that! LOL
Seriously Pea Stone - be careful out there man!
same - not the best feeling, I think you'd agree
Electroboom:
@@slatsgrobneck7515 I know the reply is late, but thanks man. Had another experience with a faulty fridge electrical cord the other day.
Your videos are so very well explained and easily understandable I’d love to see you do a series eventually on Electrical flow with/in 4-20 MA circuits in Industrial Control Panels with PLC’s and Electrical flow to Field Devices wired to them. That would be cool.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I’ve asked my boss and co workers, how split phase power works. Non were able to explain it as well as you. Thanks!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much. You explained it better than all my teachers combined.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I like learning something new. But unlearning something wrong? Wow. Huge respect to the creator of this video!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
These are some spectacular videos! I've learned a ton by watching them.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Hello, nice presentation. On the subject of Neutrals and Grounds, I’d like to insert something. True, electricity follows the path of least resistance, to a point. To be correct electricity follows all paths available, some carry more current due to less resistance. So, a Neutral Wire in America carry’s the Unbalanced 240 volt current back to the source, ie... generator. The ground in that system will also carry part of the unbalanced load, not as many amps as the neutral only because of resistance, ground wires are allowed to be smaller sized. Make no mistake, if you disconnect a home ground wire from the connection point and connect a multimeter you will read current flow. Just my 2c’s worth, be safe.
Check our new Multimeter tutorial out ➡️ th-cam.com/video/4lAyzRxsbDc/w-d-xo.html
This is just to tell u that your videos are precise, highly informative. Please keep them coming.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I have decades of experience and that was a really good video explanation....wish I would have seen it in 1985
These videos are the best I have ever seen. Thank you.
I need to watch this about twenty times to make sure I actually absorb it all.
same
Same here. I’m a slow learner.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
How did I just find this channel? Great content my man.
Thank you for this.... This was better then my apprenticeship classes.... I wish they explained it like you and had animated pictures like yours
In India it’s 220 AC . My electric iron has a small leakage in it’s metal body. This is observed when I disconnect the ground wire. With a three pin plug having phase neutral and ground wire ( we call it earth) the residual current in the metal body travels via ground wire and makes it safe to handle. This shows that the ground wire in house hold circuit always carry some current to earth. This is because of poor insulation in motor of refrigerator, AC,Iron or toaster.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I'm an accountant who just bought a house. I'm not handy at all, but your videos are giving me a (perhaps unearned) sense of confidence that maybe I can do this after all!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
"All paths" you get a gold star and a subscriber, thank you.⭐👍
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
As a electrician I always wondered how the ground wire would trip a circuit breaker due to it being hooked up to the neutral in houses but I see due to low resistance it cause the influx in amps cause th breaker to trip very nice 👌🏻
The ground wire never has less resistance. The video is not accurate about that. In many applications the conduit is used as the ground which has a far greater resistance than copper. In larger wire applications (10GA and larger) it is very common to have the ground wire be 2 sizes smaller. It simply needs to hold current for a fraction of a second up to 10x rated load if the ground becomes the return path due to a fault and trip the breaker. It is the same gauge in residential to make it easier to work with.
So if I have a hot and a neutral wire light fixture and I’m trying to attach it to a lighting housing box that has hot, neutral, and exposed ground wire. Should I leave the ground wire not connected and just shove it back in thr box unused? Or should I connect neutral and ground wires all together in same wire clamp? And hot with hot?
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡️: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Best damned explanation I think I have ever heard let alone watched with detailed visuals my hats off to you sir well done all the way around
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
the moment you said electricity flows from negative to positive, I immediatly subscribed.
Current flows from positive to negative. While electron flow negative to positive.
@@xzy7196 I thought he could have spent more time on that. Along with how fast electrons go from negative to positive which is a crawl. I've read 1 foot every 20 minutes or so. Yet the current due to so many electrons doing this lazy ride travels at basically the speed of light.
I always talk about electron flow rather than hole flow so I say current flows from negative to positive.
I second @Adnan MX, current exists due to potential difference, and it'll always go from higher potential to lesser potential (Kirchhoff and Ohm laws expand more on this), therefore, one could say that current "flows" from positive (higher potential) to negative (lesser potential).
The reason for it to be like this is found in a subatomic level, where electrons flow towards a positively biased charge and are repelled from a negatively biased charge (ie battery terminals). Every time an electron moves towards the positive charge, a "blank slot" is left behind in its previous place, having this "slot" populated by the next electron being attracted towards the positive charge. Since every time electrons move they'll leave a "blank slot" in their previous positions, one will easily notice that a given "slot" will appear to be moving from the positive charge towards the negative charge, whereas electrons will appear to be moving in the opposite way. This "blank slot moving" behaviour is described as current, therefore, the reason for it to be represented in the previously described way.
yea, and I hope that it was just an editing mistake in the animation when the neutral and ground were connected to the positive terminal on the battery.
That is a very good explanation of a three wire AC branch circuit and the fundamentals of residential electrical services. The only suggestion I would make is replace the word "resistance" with "impedance", as you are utilizing an AC system electrical circuit. Again, excellent tutorial for electricians, engineers and curious tinkers.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Excellent explanations with fantastic graphics. I learned thing that I never understood well.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
So ground is basically an emergency neutral... thanks man
The ground is a backup in case the neutra wirel fails or the positive wire insulation either melts or breaks and touches the metal EMT conduit
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
If internet existed when I was a boy, I would follow my father steps and become an electric engineer.(because he died when I was a child, so, could not show me this fascinating world himself). Really nice videos.thumbs up, and you have anew follower.
You should also consider being an electrician. Being an engineer is hard, both in terms of finding a job and doing the job. Electrician work is more plentiful, and its application is completely hands-on.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
This is a fantastic explanation that makes my life a lot more comprehensible. Thanks!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for helping a homeowner understand what her electrician is talking about!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
That was NOT easy to follow but the animations are so good I keep watching/learning
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Why is the battery backwards? Shouldn't your positive be hooked up to your 'hot' wire? I'm coming from automotive wiring where this is the case.
The diagram shows the movement of electrons which flows in the opposite direction of current.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
So if you look up electron flow theory vs conventional flow theory it will explain it more. When elec first found we believed it flowed from pos to neg aka conventional flow theory. Butttt we later found out it actually flows from neg to pos aka electron flow theory. Whatever way you want to look at it, it doesn’t change the function on the circuit
Not to be that guy but ground wires are never less resistance than neutral. Commercial wiring you generally use the conduit which has far greater resistance than copper. In house wiring they use the same gauge so it is easier to work with. Anything larger than 12GA will generally have a ground conductor up to 2 sizes smaller (6 Gauge generally has an 8 Gauge ground). The design is to provide 10x rated current flow for enough time to trip the breaker. So yes path back to the bonding bar but not because it has less resistance.
Hmm that doesn't make sense. Wouldn't copper be a better choice for ground? Is it possible that pure copper is attached to conduit when it goes into the ground?
We were referring to to path not the material it's made from. We discussed this later in the video.
@@EngineeringMindset You're making this worse. The "path" will always be the least resistant under Kirchoff law the lesser resistant path carry less current the higher resistant path will carry less current.
@@j5892000 generally grounding rods are a copper coated steal, nickel or even galvanized. But that is Earth ground. At the box it will just galvanized steal where conduit is used as the ground. It does not need to efficiently carry current it is for safety. In residential it is wire and in smaller branches the same gauge so you don't have to have different size connectors. If you look inside a light fixture the ground is usually a tiny piece of braided copper. As mentioned just enough to carry up to 10x rated load for a fraction of a second to trip the breaker in a fault condition.
@@GH-oi2jf ah so does the conduit work fine due to the voltage being high enough to overcome the resistance like over head powerlines that are made of aluminum and carry high voltage or is it just the fact that its metal And the electricity has no other path to use anyways when going ground?
I just started trade school and this helped a lot.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
You have singlehandedly ended my search for real anwsers I couldn't find anywhere else. Thank you The Engineering Mindset.
As a mechanical engineer I took circuit analysis and the professor never talked about a neutral wire. We only ever talk about the terminals of a source. One being at a higher potential and the other being ground (0V). I did learn a lot from this video.
What happens if you treat the neutral like the ground? Goes to the same place ultimately. My best guess why we don't do that is because every line has resistance, and the more current flowing the larger the voltage difference between neutral at the appliance and "true" ground, and it will tingle every time you touch a (pseudo-) grounded portion of the appliances. The shower head at my old apartment always felt like it was stabbing my finger a little bit every time I showered. Measured about 1V AC when wet.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
These teachings are the best I have ever seen. Thank you.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
How curious. Here in Brazil I was told to never connect the ground rod to the neutral wire, as it would be a bad and unsafe pratice. Never got a decent explanation, but yours make sense.
This is great but I have one criticism: in a DC circuit, although electrons *do* travel from the negative to the positive, we tend to ignore that and imagine that it is the other way around. And I'd prefer to call the terminals positive and negative in electrical circuits and for digital logic/electronics it's usually high and low or 5/12/3.3v/power and ground.
You want us to teach you incorrectly?
One is conventional current flow and the other is electron flow version. The video is going by the electron flow version.
The Engineering Mindset considering that power is disconnected at the positive terminal YES.
@@EngineeringMindset not exactly I'm just staring the convention. I'm not saying you *should* do anything and anyway I don't really know what I'm talking about tbh.
1024 The electron flow model (negative to positive) is thanks to Rutherford's model of the atom, where electons are assigned a negative charge and protons positive. The current flow model (positive to negative) was, I believe, thanks to Edison, who likely knew nothing about atoms. It's too bad a consensus between the two models hasn't been decided upon.
It is shocking how this video caused the light bulb to go off in my head! I feel brighter!
Same! I see what you did there haha 💡
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I cut a wire that I thought was disconnected about 10 years ago outside in my garden after I watered and was barefoot. I could barely released my hand after about 5 or 10 sec. Oh yeah, and the diagonal cutters were old school uninsulated one. I pretty much did everything wrong and now have a healthy respect for these videos
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
L’ ho sempre detto che siete un gradino sopra a noi italiani! In un video ho trovato la spiegazione che stavo cercando da mesi!Compimenti per la spiegazione e grazie!
You should explain that electrons flow in the direction opposite of the current flow convention. That may help some people. - or confuse them further.
By convention, If you have a wire and a positive current is measured going from left to right in the wire, then electrons are moving right to left (opposite direction) in the wire. This is how the convention defined. In his example with the battery and light bulb, a positive current will be measured coming out of the positive terminal (cathode) of the battery, through the light bulb, and back into the negative terminal (anode). Electrons are moving the opposite direction as he shows it. Learn more about it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_current
Then to really confuse,there is no 'flow' really😉
@@multidayticket I think the confusion is using both DC and AC currents in the example.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
6:53 The ground wire doesn't have less resistance than the neutral wire, generally. In fact some circuits will have a smaller gauge ground wire than those that normally carry current.
I think the author was confused because most ground faults where the hot touches the casing will carry much larger currents than normal operation. This is just because the hot is touching the casing directly and not going through a highly resistive load like a light bulb.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Thank You -- This is the best video I have ever seen for this subject
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Best explanation and illustration ever! You v taught me more in 11 minutes than in school. Thank you.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Never heard like this explanation before
In my entire life!
You rock it!
Thank you!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Don't ask me how I got here or why I couldn't stop watching. I'm still trying to figure that out.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
He should make a video explaining that
Thank you for creating easily understandable educational videos like this, I have just been motivated to get an electrical engineering course. Keep up the good work. Really love it.
How was the course?
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Hot is positive in the US. Only mention this because you connect your battery hot to the negative which might confuse some
Yeah I was thrown off by this I’m an electrical engineering student and have used + as hot my whole life lol
in canada we use hot as positive as well
Actually positive and negative are for DC, for AC they are called hot and neutral.
jose guerrero In AC, the hot wire alternates between positive and negative relative to neutral (ground).
@@tetonux active and neutral in Australia.
I can't believe that this is free, very very well explained!
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Great way of explaining. I didn’t realize that the neutral only carries the difference of the current. One word about ground wires, I’ve learned not to trust them and be careful disconnecting them because if someone is using a ground wire to carry current, it can go to full potential once it’s disconnected. So never assume a ground wire doesn’t have voltage, especially when you disconnect it.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Thanks, now every every question in my mind is answered. I should learn more about basics
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
I'm looking for the link to "Need these countries?" (i.e. those using a 220/240V system) but it isn't anywhere in the links
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
thanks so much for this. I'm about 8 weeks in a 17 week electricity for hvar course and we never talked about this because my teacher assumed everyone knew it and after having to rebuild my electric baseboard 3 times and blowing up a transformer i just now know what these wires are and how to connect them. i wish i saw these videos before i started the class but at least once i try and rebuild my board for the fourth time now I'll understand what the wires are for and why they matter (and hopefully not blow anything else up)
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
@@EngineeringMindset I appreciate it I've been working in HVAC for 2 years now and your videos have helped a ton. I've learned a lot since my first comment but I'm always looking for ways to improve and learn. I'll watch your new video when I can.
This DIY'er thought he knew stuff. After watching some of your more advanced videos, I've realized I needed to come back and watch some of your basics too. They're all high quality, well thought, and well made stuff. Thank you.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Great videos! Thanks for the content! One thing, (minor -nitpicky even) the 2 single pole breakers you have on the diagram are actually on the same phase in the breaker box which would mean 35 or 30 amps (depending on which scenario you're speaking of with amperage to each device) being carried back on the neutral?
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
At the end you said if a hot wire came in contact with a ground rod, "electricity would flow through the soil back to the transformer". But it makes no sense because the ground rod is also conected to the neutral bus bar at the breaker box. Therefore, if a hot wire comes in contact with a ground rod, electricity should just flow from the ground rod, to and through the neutral bus bar, back to the transformer, since that's the path of least resistance compared to flowing through the soil.
That is in the event the hot wire was directly connected to ground. If what u said happened then we would generate a short circuit.
@@miguelac6872 That's exactly what happens when hot wires come in contact with ground wires: Amparage increases beacause of low resistance, creating a short circuit and tripping the breakers because electricity flows from the hot wire to the ground wire, back to the neutral bus bar and then to the transformer. It's the same thing that shoud happen when the hot wire comes in contact with a ground rod, since ground rods are also connected to the neutral bus bar at the main panel.
@@F.J._Claes suppose that we have unbalance phases in our electrical system, as a result our neutral wire carries certain amount of current back to the source let's say 20 A with 5 V to the transformer. Why do engineers say that connecting that neutral wire to a ground rod on the transformer will cause the neutral to be 0 V? Isn't voltage suppose to be energy per charged particle? If so, then how come those 20 A can make it to the transformer? Like with what energy per charged particle can those electrons get to the transformer if their potencial energy was taken ? I hope you can undestand my point and help me out with this question that nobody in colombia knows how respond to.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Loved the video, but as an ee student we always use conventional current flow, from plus to minus.
think you got that backwards
@@yoski203 Not really, we understand that electrons flow from minus to plus, however, the calculations are easier using conventional current flow
Foundations of Analog and Digital Electronic Circuits by Anant Agarwal does a very good job at explaining why this is.
I learned it both ways (electron current flow and conventional current flow). I prefer to use electron current flow, probably because that's what I've used at work for more than 43 years. Yes, the hand rules are the opposite, but either way works fine. In certain applications, I find it more convenient to visualize what the electrons are doing. In vacuum tubes, the thermionic emission, and grid control is electrons. In semiconductors, I use both electron flow and hole flow. In magnetic circuits, for motion, flux, and current, I use the hand rules based on electron flow. I guess it's what ever you get used to. Either way works. I've noticed that physics likes to use conventional current flow, whereas much engineering uses electron current flow. Most of my schooling used electron current flow. The US Navy Electricity and Electronics Training Series (NEETS) was developed for use by personnel in many electrical and electronic related Navy ratings. It uses electron current flow throughout all the manuals for consistency.
All i know is if I connect the red probe of my meter to the negative contact and the black probe to the positive contact i will receive a
Negative reading on the screen
KISS
Very clear explanation, congrats, I will install a refrigeration cabinet with some 120 VAC instruments inside, I build the three point ac plug acording with the position of hot, neutral and ground, and was trying to understand the connection of ground with 120 VAC derived from threephasic 220 VAC + ground, now is clear, thankyou very much.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
Very NICE... I don't usually bother with thing's I can't see... I know, the meter allows me to see it..
I'm a little more comfortable, and ALOT more informed..
Thank you so MUCH...
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html
What's stopping the current from traveling in the ground wire since it's bonded to the neutral in the panel😵
Unless a ground fault exists, the ground wire doesn’t form a circuit because it isn’t actually connected to anything.
Also, neutral wires have no voltage, which is what makes them neutral. I find it helpful to think of the current in terms of air flow. The AC supply on one of the hot wires repeatedly “blows” electricity through the wire, then “sucks” it back. You can think of the neutral, with its connections to the physical ground neutralizing its voltage, as being a “vent” or supply of air at atmospheric pressure. All it does is supply electrons to be sucked in or a place for blown out electrons to go.
We just published a new Ground fault, short circuit and arc fault video, so much detail! Link HERE➡: th-cam.com/video/Qi0ynSQw-wc/w-d-xo.html