Connecting Ground and Neutral

[jamjes629]

Hiya

I've found a power supply circuit called TB008 that doesn't use a transformer and connects Ground and Neutral together. Now first of all, I'm no electrician, but everyone I've asked seems to think this is odd. Can anyone confirm?

From reading around it seems like the Neutral and Earth connections are wired at the local station anyway?

Specifcally, I'd really like to know if it violates BS 7671. Would any of you use this circuit? Is it illegal to make?

Thanks

James

 

[pmac10]

jason, this is dc power supply for pic microcontrollers at about 5v, transformed and rectified from mains (without a traditional transformer) the neutral is connected (fused ) to the 0v of the dc side of the electronic circuitry, not actually earth, 0v reference.

 

[pushrod]

Hiya


From reading around it seems like the Neutral and Earth connections are wired at the local station anyway?


James

Yes this is true and with a tn-c-s supply they are connected together just outside the customer's consumer unit

 

[Adam W]

http://www.jimfranklin.info/microchipdatasheets/91008b.pdf

 

[aptsys]

Last time I had a visit from the Microchip rep, I spoke about this, but didn't seem to understand the problem. He said the idea was that if the Phase and Neutral were the wrong way round in the plug the fuse would blow. Great, but then what does that achieve?