8 Dec
2006
8 Dec
'06
11:36 a.m.
Interestingly, that is how U.S. Navy power
on-board ships works,
too. (Well, as of 25 years ago... *SIGH*) Two out-of-phase 60 volt
live sides. U.S. standard house wiring is, however, three wire: Live,
Neutral, and Ground at 120 volts, 60 Hz. Some equipment we used on the
ship was designed for land-based labs, and case-grounded, which meant
that when you plugged them in, you were shorting out half the mains.
Why? Since there should be no connection between the active parts of the
mains circuit and the earthed metal case, why did it matter what point of
the mains supply (one side, or the mid point) was grounded?
-tony