— in electrical work NEUTRAL and GROUND both seem like the same concept to me. what is the difference???

Question

edit: five year old. we’re looking for something a kid can understand. don’t need full theory with every implication here, just the basic concept.

edit edit: Y’ALL ARE AMAZING!!

In: 4172

Answer 1

Certain electrical protection systems “check” the current flowing through the hot terminal and the neutral. If current going in via the hot terminal does not equal the current leaving the neutral, the circuit protection will activate shutting off the power. So if there was a sizeable current discharging through the ground, this would be detected as a serious malfunction.