Neutral Current Calculator
.Enter the values of phase A, B and C current in amperes to determine the value Neutral current, In(A).
Neutral Current Formula:
Neutral current is the current that flows through the neutral conductor in a polyphase electrical system.
This neutral current can impact system efficiency and safety, making it crucial to monitor and manage it effectively.
High neutral current can lead to overheating of the neutral conductor, voltage imbalances, and potential equipment damage.
In an ideal balanced three-phase system, the sum of the currents in all three phases is zero, resulting in no current flowing through the neutral conductor:
IA + IB + IC = 0
This is because the vector sum of the phase currents in a balanced system cancels out.
In a real-world scenario, loads are often not perfectly balanced, which causes a non-zero neutral current. This current is the imbalance of the vector sum of the phase currents.
The given formula calculates the magnitude of the neutral current, considering the vector nature of the currents.
In three-phase systems, the phasor sum of the currents must be considered, not just the arithmetic sum. This involves considering the phase angles between the currents.
Neutral current, In(A) in amperes is calculated by the square of sum of phase A, B and C current in amperes and subtracting by the product of A B, AC and BC in amperes.
Neutral current, In(A) = A2 + B2 + C2 – A*B – A*C – B*C
In(A) = neutral current in amperes, A.
A = phase A current in amperes, A.
B = phase B current in amperes, A.
C = phase C current in amperes, A.
Neutral Current Calculation:
- Calculate the neutral current for a three-phase system with phase currents:
Given: 𝐴 = 10A, 𝐵 = 15A and 𝐶 = 20A:
Neutral current, In(A) = A2 + B2 + C2 – A*B – A*C – B*C
In(A) = 102 + 152 + 202 – 10 * 15 – 10 * 20 – 15 * 20
In(A) = 725 – 650
In(A) = 75A.
- Determine the neutral current for a three-phase system with phase currents:
Given: 𝐴 = 6A, 𝐵 = 8A and 𝐶 = 5A:
Neutral current, In(A) = A2 + B2 + C2 – A*B – A*C – B*C
In(A) = 62 + 82 + 52 – 6 * 8 – 6 * 5 – 8 * 5
In(A) = 36 + 64 + 25 – 48 – 30 – 45
In(A) = 125 – 123
In(A) = 2A.