Earth and Neutral

There are three types of wire mainly used in any household or industrial electric circuit namely live, neutral, and earth wire. In this following segment, we are going to compare and differentiate between earth and the neutral wire. Sometimes while touching electrical devices like table fans, electrical cattle, etc we get an electric shock, or some devices start malfunctioning due to currency fluctuations, or short circuits which can cause disaster. Earth wire comes into action to solve those problems. It is just a wire that connects the open end of the conductors deep to the ground but it’s enough to drain all the surplus currents. Neutral and live wire act together to complete the connection. Live wire takes the current from the source to the appliances while the neutral wire takes the current back from devices to the source to complete the connection. 

Definition

Earth wire: Earth wire is the green wire that connects every single electric device to the ground providing electrical isolation. 

Neutral wire: neutral wire is the black wire that provides completeness to the circuit. It carries back the current from the devices to the source. 

Comparison

Although they have completely different purposes and functions we can compare earth and neutral wire with the reference of some key points 

1. Earth and neutral wire both work in the zero potential difference hence they are not liable for any energy consumption. 
2. Earth wires have very little current as there are always surplus currents in the circuit whereas the neutral doesn’t have any current at all. 
3. Earth wire provides a current pathing from the devices to the ground while the neutral just provides a returning path to the current, i.e it makes a path for the current to return to the source from instruments. 
4. Earth wire can be used as neutral but vice-versa is not possible as it has a completely different function. 
5. It is necessary to earthen every neutral point. The reason to ground or earth the neutrals is to provide a steady potential. Every electric instrument works between some specific potential difference region and the earth provides it with a zero reference frame. 
6. The neutral connects with the earth at only point to provide grounding, if anywhere other than that point they both get connected the neutral wire will become earth and the circuit will fail to function. 
7. Earth is a surging point whereas neutral is the reference point for the devices. 
8. Neutral is always charged wherein normal condition earthing don’t have any current however in case of insulation failure it contains a small current 
9. The neutral connection is made from the neutral point whereas earthing can be done from the neutral point or separately. 

Precaution 

Earth and neutral wire should be connected with precautions so that they don’t get attached anywhere except the neutral point and also have to make sure that they are effectively covered to avoid any human touch else he, she or it may get electrocuted. 

Conclusion

Electricity has become the most essential part of our daily life. Every step we take revolves around electricity so it’s necessary to have a safe and secure electric connection. Earth and the neutral wire are there with the other must-have instruments to fulfil that requirement. While the earth wire makes the connection safe and neutral to make sure that the circuit is complete, they have different purposes. We may differentiate them, and compare them but in the end, they both are needed.