Le neutre doit être coupé

English translation: The neutral must be switched

09:47 Nov 9, 2007

French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Electronics / Elect Eng

French term or phrase: Le neutre doit être coupé

I just need to run this past those of you who are more electrically "aware" than I am!

This occurs in a general specification for "machines" (I do not know exactly what machinery is involved; the spec is intended to be all-encompassing).

It has been stated earlier in the doc. that the arrangement used in the factory is "IT" and that neutral is only used for cabinet sockets (console and 16A).

Each cabinet will have a master switch which can be padlocked.

Each "cell" will be equipped with a 220 V AC contact socket (prise de contact) with 30 mA differential protection in proximity to the PLC and a socket outside the cabinet protected by a 16 A (30 mA) differential breaker.

220 V AC power will be supplied by a 380/220 V transformer specific to each cabinet. The external socket may use neutral.

The cabinets have a copper earthing bus.

Under the sub-section "Protection", it states that "le neutre doit être coupé au même titre que les phases". No fuses are allowed (except for special cases).

I have read through the information provided in http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1022854 and I think that it's saying that the neutral and the phase conductors must be isolated.

Is that correct?

David Goward KudoZ activity Questions: 221 (1 open) (14 closed without grading) Answers: 627 France
Local time: 01:51

English translation:The neutral must be switched

Explanation:
in combination with the phases.

In certain fault situations, a voltage can be present on the neutral so this is just saying that the master switch must not only disconnect the "lives" but must also disconnect the neutral to ensure that the machine / rack / whatever is completely disconnected.

Selected response from:

Terry Richards
France
Local time: 01:51

Grading comment

Thanks very much, gentlemen.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +3

The neutral must be switched

Terry Richards

neutral line must be switched off

chris collister

Answers

9 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

The neutral must be switched

Terry Richards
France
Local time: 01:51
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 166

Grading comment

Thanks very much, gentlemen.

24 mins confidence:

neutral line must be switched off

Explanation:
This is just saying, that as an additional safety measure, the neutral line, which normally carries no current, should be disconnected as well as the three power phases.
The 30mA is an earth leakage current which if exceeded, will trip the whole circuit.

chris collister
France
Local time: 01:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 353

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations