rsd@sei.cmu.edu (Richard S D'Ippolito) (01/18/91)
In article <14404@milton.u.washington.edu> John Whitmore writes: >> The two wires that come from the pole are both hot, > > Miscount! Three wires come from the pole: two phases of >120 VAC and neutral. That neutral wire is grounded to the same >water pipe and grounding block in your breaker box as the >ground and neutral wires connect to. Sorry, there are NOT two phases -- it is a single phase circuit with a center tap common. Therefore, there is no technical "neutral", although the term has stuck to the common by analogy. Rich