Floating Neutral Demo

See the danger

See what actually happens when a neutral connection is lost.
Click sever neutral to see what happens when the neutral is lost.
Adjust the load on each side and watch how voltage shifts in real time.
In a normal system, both legs stay near 120V. But when the neutral is lost, voltage becomes unstable — one side drops while the other spikes.
This is the same condition that causes lights to flicker, electronics to fail, and serious electrical hazards in real homes.

Interactive Simulator

Floating Neutral & MWBC Simulator

A real home has constant background loads keeping legs roughly balanced. Toggle appliances to see how one heavy load tips the voltage — just like in the field.

Shared Neutral Wire
Intact — voltage stable on both legs
L1
Hot Leg 1
0°
Always-on baseline
🧊Refrigerator~150W
📶Router / modem~20W
💡Kitchen lighting~80W
Baseline: 250W
Switchable loads
Total L1: 250W
L1 · Neutral
120
V
Normal
240V
L1–L2
L2 · Neutral
120
V
Normal
Voltage history L1   L2
L1 L2 N 120V 120V 120V 120V
Load imbalance: 5W
L1 heavierBalancedL2 heavier
L2
Hot Leg 2
180°
Always-on baseline
🖥Desktop computer~180W
📺Bedroom TV standby~15W
💡Living room lights~60W
Baseline: 255W
Switchable loads
Total L2: 255W
Why baseline loads matter
Standby devices — fridges, computers, lighting — keep both legs partially loaded. This masks the floating neutral until something large turns on and tips the balance.
The tipping point
With ~250W on each leg the voltage split is nearly invisible. Add a 1200W microwave to L1 and you're now at 1450W vs 255W — voltages immediately swing to dangerous levels.
Seeing this at home?
Lights that brighten when the microwave shuts off. That tipping dynamic — live.
📞 Call Reliant: (559) 338-4458