G - The protection of circuits

7 The neutral conductor

Figure G65b 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 e.

Ba

ck

INeutral
IPhase
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0

G46

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0

i 3 (%)
0

20

40

60

80

100

Fig. G65b : 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 Fig. G66 ).
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.
c 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
c 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
c 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.

ck
B a Third harmonic content

of phase current
(%)
0 - 15
15 - 33
33 - 45
> 45

Reduction factor
Size selection is based on
phase current
1.0
0.86
-

Size selection is based on

neutral current
0.86
1.0

Fig. G66 : Reduction factors for harmonic currents in four-core and five-core cables
(according to IEC 60364-5-52)

ck

G - The protection of circuits

7 The neutral conductor

Ba

TT

TN-C

TN-S

IT

Single-phase
(Phase-Neutral)
N

or

N (B)

or

Single-phase
(Phase-Phase)
(A)

(A)

or

or

G48
Three-phase
four wires
Sn u Sph

N (B)

or

Three-phase
four wires
Sn < Sph

N (B)

or

(A) Authorized for TT or TN-S systems if a RCD is installed at the origin of the circuit or upstream of it, and if no artificial
neutral is distributed downstream of its location
(B) The neutral overcurrent protection is not necessary:
c If the neutral conductor is protected against short-circuits by a device placed upstream, or,
c If the circuit is protected by a RCD which sensitivity is less than 15% of the neutral admissible current.

Fig. G67 : The various situations in which the neutral conductor may appear