Why can’t electricity flowing out of my house be re-used?

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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

11 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

The hose analogy works here. It comes in with energy (think the pressure from your tap) and leaves via the sewer.

You can reuse it, but you need a pump, it’s not going to shoot out of the drain and flush your toilet (if it does you have big problems).

Likewise the electrons are flowing, but you’re using the energy. That bit leaving doesn’t have the energy

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