Hi, I would like to use house AC neutral as ground (0v) reference for a mega 2560, is this possible?
If yes, can I do that while powering it from usb on my laptop plugged in the wall?
And finally should I wear a helmet a wetsuit and boxing gloves when doing this?
Thanks!
If your grounds are all connected, they are already connected to the neutral lead.
Paul
Thanks Paul.
Well my laptop has no ground (earth).
I read 36 volts ac across the usb cable connector enveloppe (comming out of my laptop) and AC outlet neutral.
Same thing between negative of a usb charger plugged in the wall and AC neutral.
I tried connecting the usb charger negative to the neutral AC and it didn't seam to overheat.
I guess it is some kind of floating voltage and that it would be the same for my laptop...
Jeremi
Never use Neutral for 0V, use ground/green wire.
Here in Canada ground is connected to Neutral in the breaker panel box.
But, there isn't anything wrong with leaving 0v from floating if the power supply is floating.
.
Thanks Larry.
I'm in Canada also.
The circuit I'm making is a triac controlled by a opto-darligton connected to my board.
The reason why I want to use Neutral as 0v for the opto-isulator and my board is to prevent current fluctuations created by the difference between outlet Earth and Neutral voltages.
If I use Earth on the opto or board and Neutral for the triac load, who can get a stable signal amp?
Jeremi
Thanks,
I understand from the schematics that the opto-insulator is one side on neutral and the other side on 0v or ground.
This solves my problem, I didn't know they were called SSRs.
Jeremi
Mains neutral should always be treated as dangerous - any fault in the mains appliances or wiring
can make the neutral live (perhaps only for a fraction of a second before a fuse blows).
Even in normal operation you might expect 10's of volts between neutral and ground, depending
on phase-imbalance, local earthing arrangements and how dry the ground is.