Open Neutral

Рет қаралды 814,749

Dave Gordon

2 жыл бұрын

Demonstration and explanation of the effects of an "open neutral."

Пікірлер: 934

@experiment86 Жыл бұрын

The example DC circuit with the neutral blew my mind. Simplified everything and made it make sense. Brilliant!

@jovetj Жыл бұрын

Yup! 6V on one side, 6V on the other (because batteries in series are voltage-additive). Either set of batteries is 6V; together they're 12V. This is exactly how a center-tapped secondary on a transformer works. You could easily swap in a 12V center-tapped transformer here as well, since they're very common.

@MrCrinkz 2 жыл бұрын

This mans videos are the most underrated. He’s the most gifted electrical teacher I’ve seen on the internet.

@matthanaford4614 2 жыл бұрын

I was lucky enough to have him as an actual teacher. He’s the only reason me and at least 20 of my peers passed any of our DC theory or transformers.

@pboston6RR Жыл бұрын

I agree! That was a thorough and accurate investigation into a little understood phenomena that we all share with our household wiring.

@buddyguy4723 Жыл бұрын

I saw the thumbnail and knew that this would be informative.

@jonbaxter5074 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely, this man is a great teacher

@raymondgarafano8604 Жыл бұрын

He is GOOD, anyone can work a screwdriver but knowing theory is such a big + and very important for anyone who wants to or neds to work with volts n amps. I give him 2 thumbs up.

@pamdemonia Жыл бұрын

As a journeyman electrician with 17 years experience, I am very impressed with how completely clear and understandable this explanation was! Subscribed and am gonna forward a link to my friend who teaches apprentices. Thanks so much for this video and thanks to the mysterious youtube algorithm for sending me here. Now off to watch more!

@sillybilly686 Жыл бұрын

But when are you getting these open neutrals?

@ericb.3580 Жыл бұрын

@@sillybilly686 because of age connections can get loose and also corrosion which can cause bad neutral failing

@stoutche6129 Жыл бұрын

@Chomp Chomp Katze That's no "live - neutral - earth" but "live - neutral - dephased live" circuit. It will run the same way as with batteries, just more dangerous.

@lloydchristmas-db2mn Жыл бұрын

As a 24 second KZfaq master apprentice I like it when he talks about loads.

@Firehawk841 Жыл бұрын

id like to see him go into a facility and find the lost N

@vince6829 Жыл бұрын

Wow!! Awesome explanation. Decades ago, my parent’s house had an open neutral. Lights were dimming; others were burning bright. Voltages were all over the place. Now I know why. Thank you!!

@westelaudio943 Жыл бұрын

Ohm's law.

@GoodOlKuro Жыл бұрын

@@westelaudio943 And Kirchhoff's laws.

@benjurqunov Жыл бұрын

My wifes house had resistive intermittently neutral. The flakey contractor she hired to fix it scared the shit out of her with a doom & gloom story saying the entire house needed rewiring. She went for a second opinion (me).. 30 min. later, I refit neutral in her loadcenter. She was so happy, six months later she married me.

@audicreate Жыл бұрын

Ahh check for loose neutrals in the panel first!

@audicreate Жыл бұрын

Get married second!

@michaelcorvin4330 4 ай бұрын

This has to be the best explanation of how a circuit works that I've ever seen. I unintentionally learned this lesson the hard way over 20 years ago when my band was playing at a bar. Halfway through our first set, a couple of our guitar amps and one of the PA amps literally caught fire and the whole shebang shut down. An electrician informed us the next day that it was due to a loose neutral wire in one of the bar's stage power circuits that someone had monkeyed with earlier. In fact, he was cool enough to draw a diagram similar to yours to show how circuits work, thus giving me a crash course in basic wiring. From that moment on, we invested in a $5 circuit tester before we plugged anything in and that saved us a ton of grief from potential electrical gremlins.

@Spliteyemoto 3 ай бұрын

That's a neat trick bringing your own circuit tester for gigs. I'm sure especially with older venues it might be a common problem

@michaelcorvin4330 3 ай бұрын

@@Spliteyemoto Definitely. Especially with dive bars and frat houses!

@explod329 Жыл бұрын

This guy is a electrical genius! The way he teaches makes it so easy to understand vs reading out of a book! I have watched every video of this man I could find and he has made me say "wow" so many times. This guy deserves a trillion subscribers! He's my go to for learning! Thank you Mr. Gordon!

@error200http Жыл бұрын

It's rather that open neutral is a dumb concept. Haven't seen it in Europe.

@Profiteam Жыл бұрын

@@error200http Als Fehler nach Isolationsmessungen ist das ein mögliches Szenario. Selbst erlebt!

@jovetj Жыл бұрын

@@error200http It's a "dumb concept" to you because your homes are only wired on one side of the transformer. An "open neutral" to you is a completely-open circuit.

@jdm2651 Жыл бұрын

@@error200http You missed the most important thing which he said in the introduction: let's mimic a single phase, 3 wires circuit (240V phase to phase). This is how electricity is normally brought to domestic and small commercial users in the US, and I suspect, other 120V countries. It is very practical to split all the loads in two halves, and the electrical cabinets are in fact designed to make this easy and evident. Then, an abnormal open neutral condition is examined and explained. No comparison to Europe, or name calling applies here.

@michaelbradley7529 Жыл бұрын

This is pretty standard in second and third year apprentice schooling, out of the total 5 years of school required to become a journeyman electrician (at least on the union side of things).

@JustAnAcre 5 күн бұрын

Excellent teacher. A rare breed of men you belong.

@allenblum6257 6 ай бұрын

I'm nearly 70 years old and have seen this twice. Once at work, and once in my own home. At work, we had partitions between cubicles that had wiring embedded. A plug on one end of the partition mated with a socket on the adjoining partition. The neutral opened on one connection and caused a number of computers and printers to be fried because they suddenly had 220 volts instead of 110. At home, when the electrician installed my new panel, he didn't get the ground and neutral bars securely bonded. A couple of years later, the bond worked loose and blew out a few items. A couple of surge protectors gave their lives but protected their loads. I saw several of the situations Dave describes. At the time, it was pretty confusing. Excellent video!.

@scout7198 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent lesson!! Thank you for helping me understand an electrical problem I am facing now in my house. I appreciate the time and energy you spent helping the rest of us out here. God bless you.

@SoProJared 2 жыл бұрын

The best explanation of an open neutral I’ve ever seen. Very good video.

@paulbfields8284 Жыл бұрын

As I slap myself in the forehead…”yes!!!” Outstanding demonstration.. as a picture paints a thousand words… a physical demonstration literally lights up the room with illumination.. thank you

@PawlSpring 2 ай бұрын

I stumbled on this video from a link with someone who was dealing with a dropped neutral that fried some appliances. Using the lights on a DC circuit is really, really helpful. 🔌💡

@chasincreationz9364 Жыл бұрын

As a first year apprentice and just started the chapter on 3-wire branch circuits / open neutral, this was TREMENDOUSLY explained. I read the chapter three times and was left more confused than anything. After stumbling upon this video, I now feel I have a much better grasp on what an open neutral is. Thank you kind sir!

@civildiscourse2000 3 ай бұрын

If you're getting notifications on this thread a year down the line, may I ask what the book or other publication was that let you down? No shade on Dave's outstanding video, but open neutral shouldn't be terribly hard to explain.

@clamboni9 4 ай бұрын

BEAUTIFULLY explained. Makes a fairly complex thing easier for people to understand....shared neutrals can be a nightmare in the field.

@ItzDreAllDay 13 күн бұрын

Liked -> Downloaded -> Saved Great video, amazing actually. Instructors need not waste time, just play this video in your classes and be prepared to answer any questions

@anotheremerex Жыл бұрын

Liked and Subscribed. This is the kind of content that changes the internet from a toy to a tool. Great explanation!

@Justin031296 Жыл бұрын

Im an apprentice, and this was the clearest explanation of an open neutral I've received.

@suddeneevee9441 Жыл бұрын

As someone with interest in electricity: this is an excellent explanation video about electrical loads and series/parallel circuits. But as an European: We just simply have 230V ac. One live, one neutral and one ground. We have simplicity, you have flexibility.

@___Bruh__ 3 ай бұрын

You make learning fun. That's a rare trait to have and I appreciate all the effort you give.

@EMunch-pv7lq 2 жыл бұрын

Both the diagram and the display are over the top!... backed by an clear and concise explainer!... Amazing video Dave, keep'em coming!

@pjmcinnis1188 2 жыл бұрын

Mr you are the best electrical teacher that I every seen on KZfaq!! I was about to type world!! Lol Your way of explaining is the best and I wish I could give you a 1000 likes. Please keep posting, your are really doing a hell of a job.

@XBKLYN 3 ай бұрын

I'm an EE and never understood the connection between faulty neutrals and uneven lighting, until now! Great vid.

@2011dgk 3 ай бұрын

Dude. Thank you. I remember looking for something like this years ago to help me visualize what was going on. Im only 15 ...20 seconds in and already know this is about to be GOAT. Thanks again

@Loco4Waffles Жыл бұрын

What an excellent demonstration. Thanks for the refresher.

@Cotronixco Жыл бұрын

You're a great teacher. Clear and concise. As an engineer, I found this all to be 100% accurate. Keep up the good work.

@andre0baskin Жыл бұрын

A excellent explantation. The more I deal with the simpler 220v systems outside of North America the more I appreciate them.

@asdfjklol 8 ай бұрын

This is the best explanation of a neutral on KZfaq.

@dancoulson6579 Жыл бұрын

I love the setup you created for this video. The use of clear, color coded wires, simple incandescent lamps, and a clear layout makes it so much easier to understand.

@civildiscourse2000 3 ай бұрын

He even included the bond wire even though, as in real life, it has no connection to the current-carrying conductors. I'm totally copping this layout.

@jeffgreen7897 Жыл бұрын

When I explain this to my apprentices, this is what I see in my mind. Thank you for all your videos! In my book, you sir make a difference in the lives of people that really take an interest in the electrical trade.

@ATorres0821 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful demonstrations, thank you for your work!

@pietro5266 4 ай бұрын

I never really understood these principles until I saw this video. Great demonstration and explanation!

@andrewshedron425 6 ай бұрын

Great job breaking this stuff down! So many people out there are in more danger than they think when it comes to the neutral and ground.

@Turkrypty Жыл бұрын

This is a FANTASTIC demo. Props to you for making this video so educational and visually easy to understand.

@ForwardGuidance Жыл бұрын

Great set of videos by you. Very well explained.

@afbanales 4 ай бұрын

This 1 video summarizes and clarifies much more than literally dozens of KZfaq videos. Thank you!!

@promptlycandid4710 Жыл бұрын

Why do I feel like I had an epiphany watching this? Excellent job teaching. Earned a sub.

@jgren4048 Жыл бұрын

I like how you arranged the wiring ladder similar to a breaker panel so that some can easier compare it to what they are going to see in the field. I don’t know if you have done it already, as this is the first video I’ve seen, but you could also show how losing a phase and having 240v loads will also affect the 120v loads on that phase, and the relationship there Good job!!

@AirOnJohnson 10 ай бұрын

If you lost a phase all of the lights on that phase would just go out. And the lights on the other phase would act normal. All the amps on the working phase would also be on the nuetral. Don't think there would be much to sure in that video right?

@user-bn1cz8vx4d 6 ай бұрын

Until your electric water heater turns on and the other half of your house comes on at 40v

@chrispapademetrious408 Жыл бұрын

This video is extremely clear and easy to follow. Absolutely brilliant.

@TheAJKahn 3 ай бұрын

This was so perfectly explained. To the point and the demonstration worked wonders. Thank you so much Dave.

@sherrokinchen5253 Жыл бұрын

That’s a pretty awesome parallel / series combination circuit set up.

@lgninjalo Жыл бұрын

I really appreciate this analysis. It's brought me a couple good insights that I've just chalked up to an open neutral and started hunting for the open, ad I've seen it. Particularly the imbalance. I knew it was from the loads shifting into a series configuration, but never bothered to draw it out before. The time and attention to detail that you put into making this is phenomenal and not only do I respect it, but I'm thoroughly impressed. And this is coming from a practicing master electrician and newly minted electrical engineer.

@atomicdmt8763 Жыл бұрын

SOLID! Im finally getting it. I hugely appreciate your 'explain it to me like Im a 4th grader' approach - w clear visuals and delivery style. Kudos!

@AFRFB09BA Жыл бұрын

First time that I see any of your videos and already a fan. Fantastic demonstration. Thank you very much.

@williamlankford5659 7 ай бұрын

This is one of the most informative videos ever.

@phantom21629 Жыл бұрын

This is the best open neutral explanation I have seen on the tubes. I learned it this way in electronics class back in the 90s. Had almost the same setup and we were tested on different orientations and had to mathematically predict the voltages at given points. The operating resistance of an appliance being different is what is key in voltage potential difference. Great video!

@michaelbradley7529 Жыл бұрын

This reminds me of being back in school during my apprenticeship. That was more than 20 years ago. I remember doing ladder diagrams for fellow classmates that were having trouble understanding and they looked a lot like what you were showing (maybe not as neatly drawn). Some classmates would complain because I wouldn't show them my answers when they didn't get around to doing the homework. Instead, I told them I would help them figure it out, because I felt it would be better if they understood the process rather than copy or just memorize the answer. This was more self-preservation than altruism because I didn't want to be stuck working with idiots in the field. Unlike most, I enjoyed my apprenticeship.

@cuttingcut1321 Жыл бұрын

The thing you demonstrated is a very important concept in Electrical Engineering, which we never realise. Thank you so much for making this video.

@MrWzeljunior Жыл бұрын

Are you studying to be an Electrical Engineer? What country are you in?

@cuttingcut1321 Жыл бұрын

@@MrWzeljunior Yes, I'm in my final year of my BTech, EE. I'm from India.

@AirOnJohnson 10 ай бұрын

This is the best explanation I've seen on KZfaq. Thank you! Subscribed after watching this!

@concealed4carry Жыл бұрын

I just came across this video. I teach second-year apprentices and I cover theory in the first module of the year. I am always looking for new material and resources (outside the book) to explain complex concepts. This is absolutely useful in demonstrating how the neutral truly works. Very good video. I will be watching all of them.

@omersayeed9639 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent videos sir, very helpful to brush up concepts!

@x7j4 4 ай бұрын

Excellent explanation!!! I’m not an electrician, but I know enough to understand your video, and it is indeed superb .

@markwagner1997 3 ай бұрын

Great video. This happened at a friend of mine's home. I was baffled, seeing dim lights in some rooms and a dining room chandelier that was so bright, you felt like you were getting a sunburn just being in the same room.

@jaykemm3472 Жыл бұрын

Thank you. This will greatly help me advance the completion of my time machine.

@qzorn4440 5 ай бұрын

A very enjoyable explanation. An intermittent open neutral in a factory can be very exciting to find. 🧐 Thank you.

@justinpullen1472 5 ай бұрын

Slow, methodical and easily understandable. Good job. I know electricians and electrical instructors that know the subject matter very well but confuse the hell out of almost anyone with their scribbles on a whiteboard.

@rizalardiansyah4486 Жыл бұрын

Accidentally stumbled upon this video. Great explanation! Like it! Certainly deserves more attention

@acestu Жыл бұрын

You are King of the Rising Inflection Sir, Very, Very Good !!

@forcedtoregister100 Жыл бұрын

Wow I have an open neutral problem in two rooms in my house and now I finally have an idea of what's happening. Much better than the electrician that said I need to rewire the entire house

@alanrobinson847 Жыл бұрын

I have the same fluke and had it for over 30 years, I only use it for easy machine breakdowns but it has served me well, long live the fluke it's all I use

@rusosure7 4 ай бұрын

StudPack spoke of a major shock he received, and I think it was due to an open neutral. Great video!

@goaliedude32 Жыл бұрын

I did this demonstration for the son of my previous employer. I was explaining how I don't like using 3 wire to run 2 circuits (MWBC) and I set this up using recessed cans we ripped out of the ceiling. At first I had 2 lights using the same bulb and nothing changed. After lunch it clicked that I needed to imbalance the loads, I did that and none of the LED lights would turn back on again, blew up the driver. You will destroy electronics if you lose a neutral and it puts devices in series with each other. I have since come to be fine with MWBC but the neutral must be clearly marked at every single point.

@skiloist Жыл бұрын

Absolutely perfect explanation. I tried to explain it to a new guy and he was a deer in the head lights! I will definitely send him your way. Oh and Glory to the one God❤!

@schrosser180 Жыл бұрын

This is a perfect illustration. Very very nicely done Mr. Gordon

@SemperShock Жыл бұрын

The Visual learning here, got a lot of useful information about the open neutral from the display board with the lights on. Greatly appreciate that demonstration. As an IBEW member, don’t do much work on residential work & needed some info on an open neutral. Thank you

@complexity5545 Жыл бұрын

This might be the most fantastic video for open-neutral and current balance. This is perfect for teaching. Jeez.

@Thereis1 Жыл бұрын

FINALLY! I UNDERSTAND! Thanks electrical dood. The bit about resistive temps really iced the cake!

@vintagespeedandperformance6615 4 ай бұрын

25 year master electrician and stumbled upon your channel today. I guess the algorithm is dropping g some new stuff in my recommended list. I have a crew and trying to explain open neutrals to apprentices results in blank stares. Even using diagrams and showing the math on paper leaves them confused. Never thought of using a DC circuit to demonstrate the effects. With your demo, one can instantly see how the loss of neutral can result in varied series and paralleled circuits. If they know the basics of ohms law, its easier for them to understand when one light is bright and others are dim. Now i can point them to this video and save myself some frustration. A teacher I am not…thanks for sharing your knowledge.

@adancontreras8565 4 ай бұрын

he lost me at total resistance is 8 ohms in the parallel portion, when he said they were all equal loads. But still using the 16 ohms per load on the parallel circuit to do his calculations. I feel like its such a simple answer but I can not figure it out

@vintagespeedandperformance6615 4 ай бұрын

@@adancontreras8565 when equal loads are in parallel, the resistance is reduced in half. Think of a water channel that splits into two equally sized channels. The same amount of water is flowing through but the volume in each channel is reduced by 1/2. If there are three equally sized loads in parallel the resistance would be 1/3, four would be 1/4 and so on. Google calculating parallel resistance and you will get the formula. Lot of KZfaq videos on the subject too. Equal loads are easy but loads that are not equal have to be calculated.

@DJTJ13 5 ай бұрын

What would make this video even more amazing would be a real world experience and troubleshooting of this issue. Still best video I have seen on this!

@dougn7bfs Жыл бұрын

Wow, funny that this came up in my suggested videos. We had a 'data center' that was being serviced by a UPS 'electrician'. He had inadvertently removed a neutral at the UPS output to the subpanel that fed all our racks for some unknown reason and in the process smoke started pouring out of server power supplies, switches died, surge protection blocks caught fire and the fire protection system kicked in and the end result, the whole data center went offline! Four painful hours later we finally got things rebuilt but what an expensive mistake he made! I knew it had something to do with what you describe here but to get this visually is an excellent method, thank you for your efforts and time :)

@jovetj Жыл бұрын

Holy shit!! I hope he or his company were held financially responsible. And he was fired.

@digiryde Жыл бұрын

I am sending this to my wife. This is a brilliant example.

@user-di4bt7qu2i Жыл бұрын

Excellent analysis. I sent the link to this video to my son (he's an Electrician). Thanks for posting

@keithwatson8228 Жыл бұрын

You are very brilliant. You have a true understanding of electricity. I would sure like to have you in my corner when I build my next prototype.

@thomasnesmith5426 Жыл бұрын

You have no idea how helpful this video was for explaining the REASON we use this circuit design.

@charles-hu8ru 7 ай бұрын

As a master electrician I can usually diagnose a problem from the symptoms that are observed. The problem I have is trying to explain the problems to an apprentice or a customer. This video gives me the mental picture to make it easier to explain.

@RTFMn00b 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for the thorough explanation! I had very odd power issues all day, only to discover a neighbor's contractor hit their line with an excavator, breaking the tensioning cable and leaving me with an open neutral. Initially viewing them as sags (down to 80v that I saw), and knowing nothing of the damage, I couldn't explain why one surge suppressor began shorting internally and melting. No other video I found explained it in the same depth or clarity.

@bishn69 Жыл бұрын

Best video I've seen explaining this concept that I never really understood

@Spike_au Жыл бұрын

Brilliant. So glad I stumbled across this channel

@donmclean1220 Жыл бұрын

Great video. People on Quora who don’t understand loose neutral effects need to view this.

@CJD44 Жыл бұрын

Best description I’ve ever seen or heard. ❤

@95richiecruz 3 ай бұрын

This answered my question I have been having for years. I appreciate this video so much!!!

@4x4dually 3 ай бұрын

What a brilliant way to explain open neutrals. Next time I try to explain it to anyone, they are getting this link first. Nicely done.

@Screwloose10 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you brother!!!!!!! You will go viral one day

@vhg8638 3 ай бұрын

AWESOME! VIDEO! So beautifully explained!! LOVE it

@woodwind63 Жыл бұрын

Excellent Production Dave. Your attention to detail in the white board drawings as well as the clean demo circuit construction really makes it easy to learn. I learn as much about teaching as the circuit theory with you. You're an inspiration. Thanks!

@russelldee680 Жыл бұрын

One of the best if not The best explanation of an open neutral I have seen. Well done.

@presentalinkwalterbak2426 Жыл бұрын

One of the best videos I've ever seen! Excellent explanation.

@TrueLifeDemi 4 ай бұрын

I’m about to watch all your videos before I start my new job to have a better understanding and clarity. Thanks for your hard work and gift your sharing with me and the internet! 🔥🙏🏾💯

@NotFarmerFlats Жыл бұрын

Mmmm I love this. Before I dropped out of studying electrical engineering, I remember studying " mesh analysis". From what the professor said, it's one of the first complex concepts to fully understand and stay oriented with. But boy howdy! This is a wonderful visual demonstration of those Concepts at work! I love it. Wish I would have found this when I was in school.