three-wire system

three-wire system

[′thrē ¦wir ′sis·təm] (electricity) System of electric supply comprising three conductors, one of which (known as the neutral wire) is maintained at a potential midway between the potential of the other two (referred to as the outer conductors); part of the load may be connected directly between the outer conductors, the remainder being divided as evenly as possible into two parts, each of which is connected between the neutral and one outer conductor; there are thus two distinct supply voltages, one being twice the other.

three-wire system

An electric wiring system which utilizes three conductors; one of the wires (the “neutral wire”) is maintained at a potential midway between the potentials of the other two.