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Technical Bulletin
Switching the Neutral Conductor

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Abstract Grounded vs. Ungrounded Neutrals
Automatic transfer and bypass switches are made in NEC differentiates between system and equipment
two, three and four pole versions. The two and three grounding as follows:
pole variety are generally understood as to usage and
ampere/voltage rating of the load carrying contacts. System Ground: A system ground is a connection to
The use of the fourth pole to switch the neutral is less ground from one of the current-carrying conductors
commonly understood. Questions of when to switch of a distri-bution circuit or of an interior wiring
the neutral or not in standby power systems must be scheme. See Fig. 1.
answered in light of NEC 230-95 and NFPA 70-1996.
These standards refer to ground fault protection Equipment Ground: An equipment ground is a
requirements. The safety and advantages of GFP can connection to ground from one or more of the non-
only be realized if proper grounding and consideration current-carrying metal parts of the wiring system or
of neutral switching is taken. When neutral switching of apparatus connected to the system. As used in this
is dictated, then the determination of fourth pole sense, the term equipment includes all such metal
contact ratings, synchronization, reliability and parts as metal conduits, metal raceway, metal armor
integration with GFP must be taken into account. of cables, outlet boxes, cabinets, switch boxes, motor
Since April 1989 UL has required more stringent test frames and metal enclosures of motor controllers. See
conformance of the neutral pole and this has a Fig. 2.
bearing on the designer’s choices for standby power
systems. System Neutral Ground: A system neutral ground is a
connection to ground from the neutral point or points
— of a circuit, transformer, rotating machine or system.
Standby Power Systems The neutral point of a system is that point which has
Modern utility systems are generally reliable but the same potential as the point of junction of a group
human error or the uncertainty of weather can of equal nonreactive resistances if connected at their
and does call for emergency or standby power free ends to the appropriate main terminals or lines of
availability. These systems are found in a wide range the system. See Fig. 3.
of environments, including industrial, commercial,
office, military, remote, medical, malls, public safety, An ungrounded system features no intentional
academic or scientific sites. In all cases, safety as connection between the system conductors and
to personnel or destructive fires and outages must ground. What is easily forgotten though is the
be designed in and accounted for. An important capacitive coupling that always exists between
element of the standby power system is the transfer system conductors and ground. See Fig. 4. Because of
switch. These switches are made in two, three and the danger to personnel and possible damage to
four pole versions. The use of a transfer switch in equipment and property, should there be leakage to
traditional two or three pole applications, as pertains ground due to shorts or high impedance paths, the
to automatic voltage sensing of normal source failure NEC decrees that certain grounding practices and
and the commands to start and cut over to a standby detection of these faults be designed into systems.
source, is straightforward. Typically these The utilities generally provide power to large users via
installations are two pole for single phase and three three phase grounded wye distribution. The power
pole for three phase circuits. The neutral may or may transformer feeding the user will have its neutral
not require switching which would dictate an grounded. For a system having a neutral conductor
additional pole on the transfer switch. The neutral that is not grounded, the possibility of destructive
and its relation to grounding, in terms of safety to transient voltages appearing from line to ground
personnel and equipment for standby systems, must during switching of a circuit having a line to ground
first be understood. fault is very likely. See Fig. 5.
In addition, an ungrounded neutral this rule, choose as many as six 800 —
system developing a fault to ground amperes mains in a 480Y/277 volt Standby Power Systems
may go unnoticed until a second switchboard (4800 amps of service) A correctly grounded standby generator
ground fault causes a line to line fault without having to install ground fault system including the transfer switch is
which can be of major proportions. See protection. shown in Fig. 9. Note that a three pole
Fig. 6. These ungrounded systems are transfer switch is used and the gen set
designed into critical industrial Ground fault protection equipment is does not have its neutral grounded at
processes that cannot afford tripping designed to detect phase to ground the generator although the housing is
of protective devices should a ground faults ignoring overloads and phase grounded. Should a fault develop to
fault develop. Such a condition could to phase faults. Three methods of ground only one path exists and the
shut down operations or parts of detection are employed: GFP sensor would signal the unbalance.
process that could result in explosion or • Zero Sequence, detects vector Since the neutral is common to both
loss of product being processed. unbalance of current sum in each the normal and standby sources, the
phase and the neutral. Outputs if not generator is not considered separately
A system featuring neutral grounding zero. derived. Under this scheme the neutral
has many advantages over the • Residual Connected, uses 3 or 4 CT’s is not grounded at the housing. Fig 10
ugrounded system. That is: and 4 time relays. Any leakage to depicts the division of current that
• Greater safety for personnel and ground will output a signal. would occur in the event of a ground
equipment • Source Ground, detects current flow fault. Some portion would return
• Increased service reliability through system grounding conductor outside the GFP sensor. Yet another
• Lower operating and maintenance which is connected between neutral problem with a generator neutral
expense and ground. ground is shown in Fig. 11. In this case
• Reduced magnitude transients the neutral current can divide and
• Simplified ground-fault location None of these methods are totally return via the gen set ground path.
without problems. Proper operation This also will fool the GFP sensor into
The NEC requires that ground fault requires that detection will monitor all monitoring less fault current than may
protection must be used for all solidly fault currents to ground. Should there be flowing.
grounded wye services. This be multiple grounding of the neutral
requirement first appeared in the NEC it is possible that proper operation of In all the above cases the three pole
in 1971 (230-95). It stated, “Ground fault the GFP device will not monitor the transfer switch must have contact
protection of equipment shall be total fault. See Fig. 8. Therefore, it is structures that are able to withstand
provided for solidly grounded wye important to insure that grounding of the fault currents for the time that is
electrical services of more than 150 the neutral not take place at multiple taken before sensing and the protective
volts to ground, but not exceeding 600 locations so as to create unintended devices clear the circuit. Transfer
volts phase to phase for each service paths and defeat the GFP sensor. The switches that are properly designed
disconnecting means rated 1000 NEC further limits neutral rounding via will have relatively high withstand and
amperes or more.” See Fig. 7. the “separately derived system” rule. close into fault current values for this
That is, a system source such as a demanding work. Also in the above
The reason behind this requirement transformer or a generator can have its cases the neutral current carrying line
was an awareness that sustained arcing neutral grounded at only one place. The was solidly connected and not
on grounded 480Y/277 volt systems correct place to ground the service switched. Should the designer want to
could be very damaging. The selection neutral is at the main panelboard or ground the generator and still adhere
of 1000 amperes or more for ground switchboard. It is not permitted to be to code and avoid the problems of split
fault protection was made with the grounded at other points. return paths and improper GFP sensing,
belief that smaller overcurrent devices the use of a our pole transfer switch is
with long trip times of 1000 amperes called for
or less would probably clear an arcing
ground fault in sufficient time to limit
damage. A designer could under
— to its phase contacts |if not of the same than the main phase contact shaft.
Four Pole Transfer Switches construction. And that bus spacing is Interesting results are obtained by
Four pole switches are employed to closer to line than its line to line spacing transferring the phases to standby
insure that the generator can be or it has a different means of support power and leaving the neutral
grounded without compromising for its neutral bus. That means that the connected to the normal power source.
the NEC. That is, the gen set can be neutral contact must be capable of There exists some debate over
wired as a separately derived system withstand and close into fault ratings synchronizing the timing of the fourth
by grounding the neutral at the gen set at least equal to the phase contacts. pole.
as long as the neutral is no longer solid The fact is, not all transfer switches
through the transfer switch. This of employing a fourth pole are For those transfer switches having all
course infers that neutral be switched constructed in like fashion. contacts actuated by a common shaft,
at the same time as the phases. This the neutral will swing in harmony with
scheme will also insure GFP operation There exist four pole switches that the phase contacts. In fact, if the
as intended. Fig. 12 shows a four pole utilize contacts: neutral leads the phase contacts by
transfer switch wired with a gen set • of different amperage (lower) an amount to insure make first, break
having its neutral grounded at the capacity than the phases last, then the possibility of transient
housing. In this wiring the neutral • that do not actuate by the same voltages during switching is diminished
return path is deliberately open for means as the phase contacts or eliminated. For those switches
ground return currents by the transfer • that have bus supports differing from employing a separate actuating
switch contacts. This will also avoid the phase supports means for the neutral, the possibility
nuisance tripping in the case of an • that have bus structures with closer of timing differences are much greater.
unbalanced load. In effect, the gen set spacing than phase to phase spacing These switches employ the overlapping
is now completely isolated from the • that have synchronizing contact arrangement which adds to
utility service and presents an effective characteristics differing from phase complexity. Four pole transfer switches
and safe alternative to solid neutral contact make-break timing with common shafts change position
lines. rapidly enough to minimize any
Since all transfer switches must comply currents due to transients.
A designer has the tools to now with and meet the requirements for
configure a standby system as either UL 1008, a designer must examine the Although the subject of another
separately derived or not. If the system ratings and specifications of a four pole discussion, the more recent attention
needs are for not grounding the gen set transfer switch should the system call to third harmonic current appearing on
at its site then a three pole transfer for switching the neutral. the neutral and its attendant emphasis
switch with a solid neutral should be on having greater contact capability,
employed. If the gen set needs to be At a minimum the designer should the need for reliable fourth pole
grounded at its site, then a four pole insure that all four poles are equally operation is even more pronounced.
transfer switch must be designed into rated as to carrying, withstand, close
the system. This will insure that the into fault currents and voltage. The
neutral is switched isolating the normal designer should also ascertain that bus
or utility supply. Lastly, should the supports, spacings and actuating
designer decide to switch the neutral, means are identical for all contacts. The
consideration to contact ratings and aspect of actuating means can be
performance should be taken into critical.
account.
If all contacts are actuated by a
— common shaft, there can be no
Fourth Pole and UL Requirements question of a neutral never having been
As of April 1989, UL 1008 required that switched while the phases were. There
the fourth pole of a transfer switch be are switches that have fourth pole
tested and proven to have ratings equal contacts actuated by means other
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Figures

Figure 1 Figure 2
System Ground on an Equipment Ground
Ungrounded System Ungrounded Neutral

Figure 3 Figure 4
System Neutral Ground Ungrounded System
Capacitively Coupled
to Ground

Figure 5 Figure 6
Transient Overvoltages Ungrounded Neutral
Due to Ground Fault System Developing
Interruption on Second Fault to Ground
Ungrounded System
May Cause Other
Faults to Occur
on System
Figure 7 Figure 8
Source Featuring Multiple Grounding of
Grounded Neutral at Neutral Allows Fault
Transformer and Service Current to Flow Back
Entrance with GFP Sensor Through Neutral Via Paths
A & B (Flow via is outside
GFP Sensor)

Figure 9 Figure 10
Correctly Grounded Generator Set
Standby Power Source Grounded to Neutral
at Housing Neutral
Bus Isolated from
Housing of Transfer
Switch

Figure 11 Figure 12
Neutral Current Returning Use of 4 Pole Transfer
on Ground (Partial Current Switch to Permit
Outside GFP) Grounding of Generator
Set at Site
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Summary

While the system designer has the option of selecting

two, three and four pole transfer switches for standby
power systems, the choice of ground vs. ungrounded
systems is one of safety and code. The NEC requires
systems of particular capabilities to incorporate
ground fault protection. If GFP is employed, then
consideration of appropriate grounding and neutral
switching is warranted. Complications and errors can
be avoided in grounded systems employing GFP by
utilizing four pole transfer switches. These switches
must be selected on the basis of the fourth pole
ratings, actuation and synchronization.

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References
ANSI/NFPA 70 – 1996 National Electric Code

Nash, Hugh O. Jr, “Ground Fault Protection and the

Problem of Nuisance Tripping of Critical Feeders”
IEEE CH2581-7/88

D. Beeman, “Industrial Power Systems Handbook”

McGraw-Hill, 1955

A. Freund, “Double the Neutral and Derate the

Transformer - Or Else!” E C & M, Dec. 1988

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UL 1008 now mandates that the four pole transfer
switch will have its neutral pole contact meet testing
identical to its phase contacts. Recent emphasis
by designers is to insure fourth pole integrity by
specifying an equal to current rating. Therefore three
or four pole transfer switching is available to solve the
problem at hand.
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ABB Zenith Controls, Inc.

305 Gregson Drive
Cary, NC 27511
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ABB Technical Services
+1 (800) 637-1738

TB-1104, 19-09

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Specifications subject to change without notice.