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In a balanced three-phase wye system, how much current flows in the neutral?

With balanced loads, neutral current is zero.

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  1. Three times one line current
  2. Essentially none ✔
  3. Double a single phase current

Why: The three phase currents are equal and 120 degrees apart, so they cancel at the neutral point. Unbalanced loads leave a leftover current on the neutral.

Huh, didn't know that: The same cancellation applies to voltage: three balanced phase voltages add up to zero.

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References

Answer: Essentially none. The three phase currents are equal and 120 degrees apart, so they cancel at the neutral point. Unbalanced loads leave a leftover current on the neutral.

  1. UC3M OpenCourseWare three-phase notes ocw.uc3m.es/pluginfile.php/3910/mod_page/content/20/Module4_notes.pdf
    the current that flows through the neutral is zero
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  2. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, EE213 Ch. 11 Three-Phase Circuits faculty.kfupm.edu.sa/EE/samir/EE213/EE213_Ch11_ThreePhase.pdf
    The sum of balanced three-phase voltages in phasor domain is zero.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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