Loss of Neutral

A broken neutral is relatively common but potentially life-threatening electrical fault that can affect households and businesses. Power flows in and out of your premises from a distribution network, entering via the active cable and leaving via the neutral cable. If there is no neutral, there will be an influx of voltage entering your premise, resulting in over voltage and a possible life-threatening situation. Loss of neutral results in equipment being over heated, damaged and sometimes non-fixable. Replacing valuable electronic equipment can be very expensive.

Loss of neutral is a serious condition. A break in the neutral conductor will simply result in a loss of the energy supply which leads to an Irrespective of load balance.

What causes Loss of Neutral

Loss of neutral can be caused by several ways. Some of the most common causes are:

Weather – bad weather such as storms and lightning can cause power problems.

Accidents – unpredictable accidents such as a tree falling on the wires can result in loss of neutral.

Stolen copper wires – While there is blackout there is no electricity running through wires, this is an easy opportunity for copper wires to be stolen and sold for money.

Overhead wires – Overhead wires are not only easily damaged, but they are also easily accessible to be stolen.

Where is Loss of Neutral common

Many African countries are a victim of loss of neutral, especially South Africa. South Africa are currently suffering from rolling blackouts. An app which provides schedules, alerts and forecasts for power outages, has become the most popular downloaded app in SA. Eskom, the state power monopoly, is struggling to generate enough electricity to meet needs, and has re-introduced a byzantine system of rotating outages known as “load-shedding.”

Quote from The Economist: “The blackouts suit copper-cable thieves, who can steal without fear of electrocution. And when the electricity is switched backed on, substations sometimes explode, resulting in secondary outages” (economist.com).

Effects of Loss of Neutral

In the event of loss of neutral, the single-phase voltage will rise to the three-phase level subjecting your equipment to >400V instead of 230V. This results in over voltage and can be catastrophic for your appliance. Any electronic appliance connected to the wiring will most likely be damaged due to overheating.

If there are problems with the neutral line, electricity may travel through a different path. This may be via water pipes, stoves and metal taps or any other conductor of electricity. This can be very dangerous, and you may suffer a serious electric shock if you touch something where electricity is present.