A single phase 208 VAC circuit has 2 hot wires, the third is the?

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Multiple Choice

A single phase 208 VAC circuit has 2 hot wires, the third is the?

In a single-phase 208 VAC setup, you get the voltage from two hot conductors coming from different phases. The third conductor is the grounding conductor. Its purpose is safety: it bonds the equipment frame to earth and provides a low-impedance path for fault current so protective devices trip. A neutral is only used if you need a 120 V circuit from the same supply; a pure 208 V single-phase circuit doesn’t require neutral. The two hot wires are the supply, and one would not call one of them the third conductor—the third conductor is specifically the ground.

In a single-phase 208 VAC setup, you get the voltage from two hot conductors coming from different phases. The third conductor is the grounding conductor. Its purpose is safety: it bonds the equipment frame to earth and provides a low-impedance path for fault current so protective devices trip. A neutral is only used if you need a 120 V circuit from the same supply; a pure 208 V single-phase circuit doesn’t require neutral. The two hot wires are the supply, and one would not call one of them the third conductor—the third conductor is specifically the ground.

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