I have a very basic understanding of how electricity flows, so apologies in advanced if this is a dumb question. As far as I understand, electricity comes into my house and goes to my devices, and then is returned through the neutral wire to my panel, where it goes to ground.
Why can’t that energy returning from my devices through neutral be used to continue providing power instead of just going to ground?
What I think is the answer (please correct me if I’m wrong): in order for the current to even flow, the circuit needs a path to ground
In: Physics
So this is not a scientific explanation. It’s a guy drinking beer on a Friday night.
Electricity doesn’t “flow” in the classical manner you think.
Electricity has the capacity to do work: it is a potential.
The wires are guides for that potential. There is no “return” path, the electricity (potential) does not flow back to the source, or anywhere out of your house.
It is either consumed (used to perform work, and dissapated as heat energy) or not.
The power lines provide a consistent differential of potential. A 120V + GND reference will provide max ~120V, and a 120V and out of phase 120V will provide a max ~240V potential difference between them.
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