In a 480v 3 phase wye system, how do the neutral and line phase relate?

In a 480V three-phase wye system, the relationship between the neutral and line phase voltage can be understood through the characteristics of a wye connection. The line voltage, which is 480V in this case, is the voltage measured between any two of the three phases.

The phase voltage, which is the voltage measured from each phase to the neutral point, is related to the line voltage by the square root of 3 factor. Specifically, the phase voltage can be calculated using the formula:

Phase Voltage = Line Voltage / √3

This means that in a wye system, the neutral point is at zero volts in relation to the ground, assuming the system is balanced and there are no unexpected faults. The individual phase voltages are equal and sum to zero in a balanced three-phase system.

Thus, when considering the choices presented, the correct relationship is that the neutral voltage is equivalent to the line phase voltage divided by the square root of three (which indicates the ratio of phase voltage to line voltage in a wye system). This understanding of phasor relationships in three-phase systems is critical for electrical applications, ensuring proper calculations and safe system designs.