SMART CONSUMER - Understanding The Earth, Neutral and Phase Points

When you call an electrician what does he check? How does he identify faults in your electricity supply lines? Do you have clear understanding of the Phase, Neutral and Earth points in the sockets of your house?

Well, we are not trying to teach you Electrical Engineering. As a consumer, it is smart to be aware of the electricity distribution from Power Plant to your house. It is also important to understand the Phase – Neutral – Earth points and what is their importance. 

Let us first understand the basic of domestic electricity supply chain.

Domestic electricity supply can be broadly divided into three categories:

       1. Generation

       2. Transmission

       3. Distribution

GENERATION: Generation happens in big power plants (Thermal, Hydro, Nuclear, Solar, Wind etc)

TRANSMISSION: Generated power is stepped up for ease of transmission. Power is transmitted via DELTA connection, (a Delta connections needs only 3 wires R-Y-B).

DISTRIBUTION: From the transmission lines the power is stepped down through local transformers and from the local transformer connection is distributed to individual houses. 

From the local transformers power is distributed to different houses as STAR connection which is having 4 wires. Three Phase wires and one Neutral wire. The Neutral point in the transformer is connected to the ground.

For domestic connections, the Neutral point is common, and any one phase (R, Y or B) is given as line to individual houses.

Understanding the Socket

According to electricity rules, the left point will be Neutral (N) and the right point will be Phase (P). The Earthing (E) point will be at the top. The earthing is used for safety purpose.

Point P should always have power, this can be checked by a Tester. The N point has no power in it, it cannot be checked with a Tester. To check the N point, a test lamp should be used.

What is the difference between Earth and Neutral?

Neutral is connected to the Neutral point of your local distribution transformer.

The Earth point is unique, made for your house only.

Why Earthing is important?

If earthing is not done, there will be chances of electrical shock in case there is some fault in the circuit.

No risk of electric shock if Earthing is done even if there is a fault in the circuit.

Mahindra Powerol deals in robust and fuel-efficient diesel and gas gensets ranging from 5kVA to 625 kVA. To know more about our products visit us at www.mahindrapowerol.com  or call us at 1800-419-1999

Reasons You Need a Backup Diesel Generator

Energy infrastructures across the world are under stress and this could lead to a sudden and unexpected power outage. While scheduled load shedding can be prepared for, the unexpected outages can delay production and even lead to massive losses. 

Here are some reasons your business will need a backup generator. 

           A) Secure information and data: -

               Consistent power supply is mandatory if you need sensitive data. Since diesel generators typically switch on within ten seconds of a power outage, a backup generator can save millions of man hours and money. 

      B)  Consistent power for productivity: -

                  In today’s scenario, no business can survive without power. Even an outage for a couple of hours can have devastating consequences. A back-up genset ensures that your operations are not disrupted in the case of power failures. 

          C) Damage to equipment: -

         Power interruptions can damage expensive equipment. A back-up system protects your assets and will save you replacement and maintenance costs in the long run. 

          D)  Easy to operate: -

                     Diesel gensets are comparatively easy to operate and trained personnel can keep them effective and productive. 

           E)  Natural Disasters: -

                 In case of a natural disaster, power supply is first affected. A backup generator will keep your unit running till regular power supply is restored. 

          F) Load Shedding: -

                   In certain areas, regular power cuts make it difficult for businesses to function efficiently. A diesel genset will ensure supply during hours of outage. 

          G) Availability of diesel: -

             Since diesel is not very expensive and easily available, diesel gensets are usually the best bet as backup power systems. 

   Mahindra Powerol deals in robust and fuel-efficient diesel and gas gensets ranging from 5kVA to 625 kVA. To know more about our products visit us at www.mahindrapowerol.com or call us at 1800-419-1999