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Home / Technical Articles / Sizing and protection of the neutral conductor (1)
Sizing and protection of the neutral conductor
Sizing and protection of the neutral conductor (photo by Andrew Barclay at Flickr)

Introduction

Sizing (c.s.a.) and the protection of the neutral conductor, apart from its current-carrying requirement, depend on several factors, namely:

  1. The type of earthing system, TT, TN, etc.
  2. The harmonic currents
  3. The method of protection against indirect contact hazards according to the methods described below
The color of the neutral conductor is statutorily blue. PEN conductor, when insulated, shall be marked by one of the following methods :

  1. Green-and-yellow throughout its length with, in addition, light blue markings at the terminations, or
  2. Light blue throughout its length with, in addition, green-and-yellow markings at the terminations


Sizing the neutral conductor

Influence of the type of earthing system TT and TN-S schemes

Single-phase circuits or those of c.s.a. ≤ 16 mm2 (copper) 25 mm2 (aluminium): the c.s.a. of the neutral conductor must be equal to that of the phases.

Three-phase circuits of c.s.a. > 16 mm2 copper or 25 mm2 aluminium: the c.s.a. of the neutral may be chosen to be:

  • Equal to that of the phase conductors, or
  • Smaller, on condition that:
    • The current likely to flow through the neutral in normal conditions is less than thepermitted value Iz. The influence of triplen (Harmonics of order 3 and multiple of 3) harmonics must be given particular  consideration or
    • The neutral conductor is protected against short-circuit, in accordance with the following Sub-clause G-7.2
    • The size of the neutral conductor is at least equal to 16 mm2 in copper or 25 mm2 in aluminium


TN-C scheme

The same conditions apply in theory as those mentioned above, but in practice, the neutral conductor must not be open-circuited under any circumstances since it constitutes a PE as well as a neutral conductor (see IEC 60364-5-54 “c.s.a. of PEN conductor” column).

IT scheme

In general, it is not recommended to distribute the neutral conductor, i.e. a 3-phase 3-wire scheme is preferred. When a 3-phase 4-wire installation is necessary, however, the conditions described above for TT and TN-S schemes are applicable.


Influence of harmonic currents

Effects of triplen harmonics

Harmonics are generated by the non-linear loads of the installation (computers, fluorescent lighting, rectifiers, power electronic choppers) and can produce high currents in the Neutral.

In particular triplen harmonics of the three Phases have a tendency to cumulate in the Neutral as:

1. Fundamental currents are out-of-phase by 2π/3 so that their sum is zero

2. On the other hand, triplen harmonics of the three Phases are always positioned in the same manner with respect to their own fundamental, and are in phase with each other (see Figure 1).

Triplen harmonics are in phase and cumulate in the Neutral
Figure 1 – Triplen harmonics are in phase and cumulate in the Neutral

Figure 2 shows the load factor of the neutral conductor as a function of the percentage of 3rd harmonic. In practice, this maximum load factor cannot exceed 3.

Load factor of the neutral conductor vs the percentage of 3rd harmonic
Figure 2 – Load factor of the neutral conductor vs the percentage of 3rd harmonic

Reduction factors for harmonic currents in four-core and five-core cables with four cores carrying current

The basic calculation of a cable concerns only cables with three loaded conductors i.e there is no current in the neutral conductor. Because of the third harmonic current, there is a current in the neutral. As a result, this neutral current creates an hot environment for the 3 phase conductors and for this reason, a reduction factor for phase conductors is necessary (see Figure 3 below).

Figure 3Reduction factors for harmonic currents in four-core and five-core cables (according to IEC 60364-5-52)

Third harmonic content of phase current
(%) 
Reduction factor
Size selection is based on phase currentSize selection is based on neutral current
0 – 151.0
15 – 330.86
33 – 450.86
> 451

Reduction factors, applied to the current-carrying capacity of a cable with three loaded conductors, give the current-carrying capacity of a cable with four loaded conductors, where the current in the fourth conductor is due to harmonics. The reduction factors also take the heating effect of the harmonic current in the phase conductors into account.

Where the neutral current is expected to be higher than the phase current, then the cable size should be selected on the basis of the neutral current.

Where the cable size selection is based on a neutral current which is not significantly higher than the phase current, it is necessary to reduce the tabulated current carrying capacity for three loaded conductors.

If the neutral current is more than 135% of the phase current and the cable size is selected on the basis of the neutral current then the three phase conductors will not be fully loaded. The reduction in heat generated by the phase conductors offsets the heat generated by the neutral conductor to the extent that it is not necessary to apply any reduction factor to the current carrying capacity for three loaded conductors.

In order to protect cables, the fuse or circuit-breaker has to be sized taking into account the greatest of the values of the line currents (phase or neutral). However, there are special devices (for example the Compact NSX circuit breaker equipped with the OSN tripping unit), that allow the use of a c.s.a. of the phase conductors smaller than the c.s.a. of the neutral conductor.

A big economic gain can thus be made.


Examples

Consider a three-phase circuit with a design load of 37 A to be installed using fourcore PVC insulated cable clipped to a wall, installation method C.

From Figure 4, a 6 mm2 cable with copper conductors has a current-carrying capacity of 40 A and hence is suitable if harmonics are not present in the circuit.

Figure 4 – Clustering coefficient according to the number of current consumers

ApplicationNumber of current consumersKs Coefficient
Lighting, Heating1

Distribution (engineering
workshop)

2…30.9
4…50.8
6…90.7
10…400.6
40 and over0.5

Note : for industrial installations, remember to take account of upgrading of the machine equipment base. As for a switchboard, a 20 % margin is recommended: In ≤ IB x ks x 1.2.


If 20 % third harmonic is present:

Then a reduction factor of 0,86 is applied and the design load becomes: 37/0.86 = 43 A.

For this load a 10 mm2 cable is necessary. In this case, the use of a special protective device (Compact NSX equipped with the OSN trip unit for instance) would allow the use of a 6 mm2 cable for the phases and of 10 mm2 for the neutral.

If 40 % third harmonic is present:

The cable size selection is based on the neutral current which is: 37 x 0,4 x 3 = 44,4 A and a reduction factor of 0,86 is applied, leading to a design load of: 44.4/0.86 = 51.6 A.

For this load a 10 mm2 cable is suitable.

If 50 % third harmonic is present:

The cable size is again selected on the basis of the neutral current, which is: 37 x 0,5 x 3 = 55,5 A .In this case the rating factor is 1 and a 16 mm2 cable is required.

In this case, the use of a special protective device (Compact NSX equipped with the OSN trip for instance) would allow the use of a 6 mm2 cable for the phases and of 10 mm2 for the neutral.

Reference // Electrical Installation Guide 2010 – Schneider Electric

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author-pic

Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

10 Comments


  1. senthil
    Apr 16, 2021

    2250kva 415 volt generator neutral conductor size calculation


  2. Godwin Godfrey D'Souza
    Jun 23, 2019

    I work on Offshore Jack-up oil rigs.
    I have like you article on EEP.
    It gives us good knowledge,and learning never ends.
    Thanks


  3. Bongani Gumbi
    Nov 18, 2017

    Hi Edvard.

    I’m a construction company in South Africa i have 2mva generator in installed on site but itkeeps burning cablesspecial from transformer to change over switch and I’m using 4 core armoured cables as one phase by two per phase at steel plate the current is 2100amps per phase please advise.Thanks regards Bongani.


  4. Bongani Gumbi
    Nov 18, 2017

    Hi Edvard
    Hope you doing well. I work as a construction company in South Africa I have 2mva generator in installed on site but it keeps burning cables special from the transformer to change over and I using 4 core armoured cables as one phase by two steel glanced about 15 meters distance between the transformer and change over switch thanks regards


  5. James Shabbile
    Apr 16, 2017

    I feel so great when I see the page of electrical engineering portal.it’s making me hard working because its course am doing and it was my ambition also my career I was wishing to be.so please keep on doing the great job you doing. Thanks God bless you.


  6. Mohamad
    Aug 13, 2015

    Dear Edward,

    Would you please explain how we can identify the percentage value of third harmonic current in a given circuit at the design stage? In other words, is there any practical way of measuring this harmonic current for a given load list ? or we need computer software for calculating this current?
    Cheers


  7. Henry Delforn
    Mar 24, 2014

    It’s crazy to consider and describe computation for “smaller” csa because you can’t use neutral during insulation fault conditions as protective earthing (PEN). I wouldn’t even consider “equal” csa … >>csa. Why limit yourself?
    Henry Delforn, EE


  8. Chopper
    Dec 09, 2012

    In Europe neutral line is blue color in industrial and domestic apllications. In system specifics like locomotives that I work, the neutral is black as the three phases system, only the alphanumeric label indicates the function. In the last ten years the cuttler protection breakers also operates the neutral wire in domestic and industry. In case of simetric loads the neutral wire is one step section size above the phase section.


  9. Qureshi
    Sep 05, 2012

    Dear Edvard
    Hope u r fine
    I work as an electrical consultant in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and in the electrical since the last 35 years.
    Here, in this part of the world we usually follow IEC / BS specs, although some major big concerns ARAMCO/SABIC/RCJY etc use ANSi / American specs; however the bulk of the work is based on IEC / BS codes.
    Having said that; i note that the color coding you have stated in your article for the neutral being blue is a bit astonishing for me here. Following IEC / BS, the neutral specified here is BLACK and not blue.

    The three phases being Red, Yellow and Blue.

    The grounding/earthing being green/yellow striped. (is PEN mentioned by above the grounding?)

    I have not recently read the relevant IEC /BS color coding.

    Can you on your part check and advise the correct color coding as per IEC / BS.

    Thanks and regards

    Anwar Hameed Qureshi
    [email protected]


  10. waju29
    Aug 07, 2012

    Hi Edvard,

    Hope you are doing well. I work for a construction company in Qatar for site temporary Electrical power team leader. Since your are working in schneider can you please describe the advantages of using 4 pole MCCB rather than 3 Pole MCCBS Because in qatar the supply of 4 pole mccb is very less so all the suppliers are asking me to go with 3 pole mccbs.Is it intrinsically Safe to Use ?

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twenty three  +    =  25

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