AC Wiring Diagrams and Terms

A while back somewhere down there below, was a question regarding a household fan wiring diagram and the terms used describing where to attach which wires. As I explained, the techy terms used were universal in nature (Fan made in China maybe???) intended for electricians and engineers who were familiar with the terms and unfortunately, were NOT written for the average non electrical lay installer. HAD I WRITTEN THE INSTRUCTIONS I WOULD HAVE USED THE COMMON TERMS (Hot, Neutral, Ground) WHICH BOTH AN ELECTRICIAN AND NON PROFESSIONAL COULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD grrrrrrrrrrr

So, if yall come across such an appliance (with instructions you dont understand) and want to wire it up, here are a few definitions. These are the words (or close to) used in the instructions

1) GrounDED Conductor

Thats what electricians and engineers and some lay persosns know as the Neutral (White). Its called a GrounDED conductor because a) Its a normal return current carrying "conductor" and b) At BOTH the Transformer and at the Service Entrance its attached to a copper wire that leads to good old mother earth (suitable grounding electrode like driven rods etc), i.e. its "grounded" AND its a "conductor" HMMMMMMMM a GrounDED Conductor who would have thought lol

2) UNgrounDED Conductor

Thats what Electricians and Engineers know as the more common term the "HOT" (Black) conductor. Its again a normal current carrying "conductor" HOWEVER unlike the Neutral, its out at the other end of a transformer winding, WHICH IS NOTTTTTTTT GROUNDED. Its NOT Grounded and its a conductor, hence its referred to in the trade as an UngrounDED Conductor HMMMMM

3) GroundING Conductor

Thats what electricians understand and could call the Ground (Green or Bare). Its a) A "conductor" but its intended ONLY for b) GroundING purposes Hmmmmmmmmm a "GroundING Conductor" . Its sole dedicated and only purpose is to provide a direct dedicated low resistance path back to the panel ONLY FOR FAULT CURRENT so the breaker trips deenergizes the circuit and can save a life. NOT intended for normal return current ONLY for fault current!!!!!!!!!

SO a GrounDED Conductor (White Neutral) is nottttttttt I repeat NOT a GroundING (Green/Bare) Conductor

NOTE DISCLAIMER at least thats how I was taught and terms sometimes (NOT always mind you) used when I had to attend NEC Seminars, but maybe in other parts of the country and other jurisdictions etc electricians and engineers use different terms??? I CANT SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY, these are just terms I learned SO NO WARRANTY take this with a grain of salt and call things whatever your little heart desires lol

Surely by now yall understand mixing and matching and substituting Neutrals (GrounDED Conductor) for Grounds (GroundING Conductor) and vice versa can be a potential hazard and could get you killed (Plus a major NEC safety violation) !!!!!!!!!!!! But you dont have to take my word for it and are free to do as yall please AT YOUR OWN RISK HOWEVER!!!!!!!!!!!

Best wishes, keep safe, n God Bless

Headed to the shop to sharpen mower blades,,,,,,minor repairs to my car tow dolly,,,,,get a Sears SS 14 Vintage Mower I sold ready for buyer to pick up,,,,,,,,Finishing touches on old RV I sold and upgrades to the new one AND WHATEVER ELSE THE FIRST WIFE tells me lol

Ol John T and all

Ah, but the instructions were not written for the professional/non-professional but for the lawyers.

I hear you, them lawyers are pretty good hands at covering their A$$es lol Those very precise chosen terms would stand up pretty much globally and it wouldnt be much of a defense for a non prefessional to blindly assume he or she "thought" it meant so and so. WHEN IN DOUBT AND LIFES AT RISK ONE MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, OUGHT TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE is a good legal argument.....

Good comment

John T Engineer and Attorney

John,
Looks right on to me. Only correction I would make is the circuit breaker does not trip to save a life but simply to save the conductor from damage. GFCI's are intended to save life. Very good explanations. I give it 4 days until the next terminology/ 3-phase/ separately derived system debate!
When you get those blades sharpened up, my grass could use a trim too!
Jess

Thanks, we have already beat the "seperately derived system" to death lol it comes up when I try to explain to lay persons when they need a 2 pole versus a 3 pole transfer switch BUT I ALWAYS LOOSE THEM heck I almost loose myself lol It also has to do with how the genset is wired and whether its Neutral is bonded to case frame and if a GroundING Electrode is used etc etc just gets too complicated for non sparkies Ive found.....

Yep if the breaker trips that can save the conductors from meltdown and prevent a fire, but anytime a case/frame becomes de energized (if a hot shorts to case frame in a 3 wire system) Id say that could also sure save a life in given circumstances REGARDLESS of the "purpose" it tripped. Just semantics, Id agree its safer BOTH for the conductors (could prevent a fire which could save a life) PLUS maybe a life saver if a hot case frame is no longer hot..And for sure if the third wire GroundING conductor IS NOT IN PLACE and theres a short and little Johnny touches the saw/drill/appliance it can kill and would save his life if the wire was in place tripping the breaker so the case was no longer HOT YIKES

It boils down to the old song "... You say Potato I say Po Tato" the third wire GroundING Conductor can save the conductor and maybe prevent a fire (hey that can save a life you know) PLUS it can save a life by de energizing a hot case frame which Johnnny may touch !!!

Thanks again, LOVE this sparky chat even if others are bored to tears

Ol John T and all

I don't think any lawyers were involved in the instructions and I really doubt it was from China or imported .As I remember it was a Hunter fan from 1919. Two ungrounded conductors -one would be fan and the other would be light. I have seen a two wire up to the fan with the bare ground used to do this. Now you have to explain to the homeowner why he can no longer have two switches or leave and hope the house doesn't burn down due to somebody elses stupidity. Room covered in pine paneling so you can't even notch the sheetrock to get the proper 3 wire up to the fan. Residential is the hardest electrical work . Commercial you just open a ceiling tile and there you go =this goes here that goes over there.

One of my main objections to the National Electrical Code is their terms;
The whole world calls it a "neutral", then why not call it a neutral?
The whole world calls it a ground, why not call it a ground?
Best one, what moron decided to call light fixtures "luminaires"????? THAT took some thought!

If I had to write the instructions, you can bet Id use the common understood language that BOTH electricians PLUS regular folks understand... I was just trying to help some poor schmuk who buys something and has no idea (nor do most) what a grounded or ungrounded conductor meant lol

Fun chattin with ya

John T

You fail to understand that some people are numb as a rotten cedar post and should avoid electrical problems.