Re: leviton vizia RF switches (Z-wave)

["Jeff Volp" <JeffVolp@xxxxxxx>]

"Robert L Bass" <no-sales-spam@bassburglaralarms> wrote in message
news:X9Gdnexh4JHWwWbYnZ2dnUVZ_tWhnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> If the neutral opens any unbalanced load goes directly to the ground which
> might not be of sufficient gauge to handle it.  This could lead to
> overheating and possibly fire.

That's not quite true Bob.  The ground only has the ability to carry current
directly back to the utility transformer through the neutral conductor
itself.  The other path is usually to a water pipe or metal stake in the
ground.  There is no direct path from that to the utility transformer center
tap.  The only route I can see is through an electrically conductive water
main, and a neighboring house sharing the same utility transformer.  The
resistance of a circuitous path such as that would limit the current, and
any resulting heat would be dissipated over a large area.  I'm not sure
whether the ground does much more than provide an exit path for a stray
lightning bolt that gets into the house wiring.

I have seen the neutral fail twice.  One was an undersize neutral fuse that
popped in our apartment building, and the other was the neutral feed from
the pole broke.  In both cases the voltage divided very unequally across the
two phases, and some electrical devices were damaged.

Please note that I am not advocating unbalanced loads.  If you take a
careful look at X10 and non-X10 loads in an average house, reapportioning
the circuits so that all X10 loads are on the same phase may not cause any
significant unbalance.  It could actually be better than the electrician did
in the first place.

Jeff