Date: 09.09.2021 Register No.

: 18BME0519

Experiment no. 5
Sizing and Selection of Neutral Link
Name: Jude John Antony Slot: L23+L24 Register No.: 18BME0519

Introduction:

Neutral links are metallic bars that are usually constructed of copper, aluminium or brass
and can act as an electrical terminal in an electrical circuit. Neutral links are utilised as the
terminating point for neutral wires in a typical electrical circuit and can vary in construction
depending on the number of neutral terminations. Neutral links can also be found in form of
a solid bar that is used within a fuse holder turning that device into a circuit isolator. A
neutral link that is used to terminate more than one wire is generally referred to as a
neutral bar.

Uses of Neutral links:

Neutral links are the terminating point of neutral wires in an electrical system. It is
normally obligatory for wiring systems to contain one live wire, one neutral wire, and
one grounding wire, so neutral links form an essential part of proper wiring.

Reference Standards for neutral links:

Standard And Year Description

IEC 60364-5-52:2001, ‘Electrical
Installations in Buildings
– Part 5-52: Selection and Erection of
Electrical Equipment – Wiring Systems’
It is concerned
with the safe installation of circuits from
the point of view of installation techniques
and conductor sizing. The installation
method frequently affects the thermal
conditions in which the cable operates and
so affects the cable carrying capacity of the
conductor or circuit.

IEC 60364-5-524. Clause 524.2 with sizing
reference to the neutral conductor in case
of non-sinusoidal currents
Clause 524.3 states that, for other multi-phase
circuits, the neutral conductor may have a
reduced cross-section if all the following
conditions are met:
The maximum expected current, including
harmonics, if any, in the neutral conductor
during normal service is not greater than the
current carrying capacity of the reduced cross-
sectional area of the neutral ‹ the neutral
conductor is protected against overcurrent ‹ the
size of the neutral is at least 16mm2 in copper
or 25mm2 in aluminium
Date: 09.09.2021 Register No.: 18BME0519

Types of Neutral Links:

The various types of Neutral Links are available with different kind of screws including multi-
head screws, headless set screws, slotted machine screws, hex screws and more. The range
of Neutral Links is available with various plating, coating or finishing options including
Chrome, Nickle brass, Zinc, Electro Tin, Natural Brass, Tin or any to increase its performance
and durability. We provide a wide range of Neutral Links with European and/or International
Standards. The assortment of Neutral Links is RoHS Compliant, TUV approved & UL Listed.
The Custom Neutral Links meet customer's samples, design specification and performance
requirements.

Neutral Wires:
Neutral wire carries the circuit back to the original power source. More specifically, neutral
wire brings the circuit to a ground or busbar usually connected at the electrical panel. This
gives currents circulation through your electrical system, which allows electricity to be fully
utilized.
Once hot wire has initialized the beginning of a circuit, there must be another wire to
complete the circuit. This role is filled by neutral wire. Neutral wire carries the circuit
back to the original power source. More specifically, neutral wire brings the circuit to a
ground or busbar usually connected at the electrical panel. This gives currents
circulation through your electrical system, which allows electricity to be fully utilized.
Additionally, this prevents faulty or excess currents from residing in your outlet.
Neutral wires are identified by their white or gray casing. Although they may not always
be circulating an electrical current, they should be handled with as much caution as hot
wire.
Date: 09.09.2021 Register No.: 18BME0519

Why Neutral Wires have Lesser gauge than Phase Wire?

Traditional Method of Sizing Link in Neutral

1. Concept of Sequence Components

Any three coplanar vectors Va, Vb, and Vc, can be expressed in terms of three new vectors V₁,
V₂ and V3 by three simultaneous linear equations with constant coefficients. Thus According
the Fortescue's theorem, the three unbalanced vectors Va, Vb, and Vc, can be replaced by a
set of three balanced systems of vectors. Therefore, the solution of equations.
A balanced system of three vectors is one in which the vectors are equal in magnitude and
are equi-spaced. The three symmetrical component vectors replacing Va, Vb, and Vc are:

• Positive sequence component which has three vectors of equal magnitude but
displaced in phase from each other by 120° and has the same phase sequence asthe
original vectors.
• Negative sequence component which has three vectors of equal magnitude but
displaced in phase from each other by 120° and has the phase sequence opposite to
the original vectors.
• Zero sequence component which has three vectors of equal magnitude and also are
in phase with each other.
Date: 09.09.2021 Register No.: 18BME0519
Date: 09.09.2021 Register No.: 18BME0519
Date: 09.09.2021 Register No.: 18BME0519

In a balanced three phase systems, the current in the neutral conductor is theoretically
zero. However in a practical electrical installation, this is not the case. In fact there is
always some current flow in the neutral although small if the loads in the three phase
are sufficiently balanced. However increasing current will flow through the neutral in an
installation with high harmonics necessitating the need to appropriately determine the
minimum cross sectional area of the neutral that will be safe for the installation.
Given the implications of under sizing the neutral conductor, the neutral conductor, shall
have the same cross section as the line conductor:

1. In single-phase, two-wire circuits whatever the section;

2. In poly-phase and single-phase three-wire circuits, when the size of the line conductors
is less than or equal to 16 mm2 in copper, or 25 mm2 in Aluminium.

The cross section of the neutral conductor can be less than the cross section of the
phase conductor when the cross section of the phase conductor is greater than 16 mm2
with a copper cable, or 25 mm2 with an aluminium cable, if both the following conditions
are met:

1. The cross section of the neutral conductor is at least 16 mm2 for copper conductors and
25 mm2 for aluminium conductors;
2. There is no high harmonic distortion of the load current. If there is high harmonic
distortion (the harmonic content, THD, is greater than 10%), as for example in equipment
with discharge lamps, the cross section of the neutral conductor cannot be less than the
cross section of the phase conductors.
Date: 09.09.2021 Register No.: 18BME0519

Procedure for Calculation/ Computation of Neutral Link Sizing:

Extract of IEC summarizes the procedure for calculation of neutral links:

Date: 09.09.2021 Register No.: 18BME0519

Characteristics of the Neutral Conductor:

Sizing the neutral. You must size the neutral conductor to carry the maximum
unbalanced current in the circuit (i.e. the largest load between the neutral and any one
ungrounded phase conductor). You calculate the first 200A of neutral current at 100%.
For all resistive loads on the neutral exceeding 200A, you must apply a demand factor
of 70%. Then, you add this value to the first 200A, which we calculated at 100%.
You calculate all inductive neutral current at 100% with no demand factor applied.
When working with cooking equipment or a dryer load, the feeder neutral load shall
also be 70% of the demand load. You must use a multiplier of 140% when calculating
the neutral current for a 3-wire, 2-phase or 5-wire, 2-phase system. The neutral
conductors do not become overloaded because 120V loads switch in and out on the
circuits at different intervals of time.