Losing Neutral

Spinning explains electricity. Who knew?

Dear Friend and Fellow Maker,

Let it be known from the outset…I am not an electrician. I repeat. I am not an electrician. But recent events in our home have created some curiosity around this most mystical of subjects, which I had hitherto relegated to the world of “magic”. And that is the subject of electricity. My overall feeling is that we as humans are mighty bold and downright audacious to be messing about with electricity as we do. Perhaps the same could be said of spinning fiber into yarn. But let me now explain a bit of the events which have “ignited” my thoughts.

We awoke early one morning just a few days ago, to the smell of burning electrical wiring in our home. Thus began a day-long search for the cause which included having several experts come to try and find out what had gone wrong. The HVAC folks scratched their heads. A blank thermostat, lights and other appliances not coming on, plus continued pops and sharp electrical smells had us rather worried we might lose several major appliances, not to mention our home. A trusted electrician discovered that we had a “faulty neutral” and that this was an issue for Duke Power, our local power company. When the Duke Power guys arrived, they confirmed that our “neutral” was completely gone, and they returned with a mini-transformer which they installed right near our outside electrical box. We plugged everything back in (we had unplugged ALL wires of any kind!) and were delighted to see lights and hear the hum of the refrigerator.

Yet still… no AC, no microwave, no stove. We didn’t discover until the next morning that we lost the coffee pot as well. In the midst of the fried AC being repaired, I was trying to understand what in the world “the neutral” is and what it does. Asking my husband to try to use very plain language to help my technology-challenged brain to grasp the concept, he obliged by using a beloved pastime to explain.

Spinning, of all things, is how he described to me the function of the “neutral” in electricity. ¹ Though spinning is not an exact picture, it nevertheless was the perfect image for me to understand what had caused fuses to blow and appliances to fry. Here is how he described it to me, with a bit more information thrown in as I have since researched this a bit more:

When we spin wool (or flax or cotton, etc) there are two opposing forces involved at the wheel. There is the pull of the draft working against the pull of the tension at the maiden or bobbin. Our hands essentially function as “the neutral”, navigating and governing the “energy” that is being added to the fibers, then deciding when there is enough energy (twist) and then letting it run into the “ground”, which is the bobbin. If our hands let too much twist build up, we have issues. Alternately, if our hands let the fiber go without enough twist added, we have issues then too.

In a home, volts of electricity are parceled out to loads which are always shifting as we turn on lights, turn off appliances, etc. The neutral is responsible for this balancing act and for directing any excessive energy into the ground.² When too much “energy” is pulled, we have breakers, much like what happens to our fiber when too much twist has been added or the tension is too great. But if the neutral is bad, then everything goes haywire…lights dim, appliances pop, and dangerous burning is afoot. Thankfully we are all safe and so is our home!! I am amazed to discover that this beautiful, meditative work of spinning, echoes the magic of harnessed electricity so that it is able to be used safely in our homes. My hands are the Neutral in the magical work of spinning wool into yarn! Wonder of wonders!

Spinning won’t power our air conditioner, or even the smallest lightbulb. But isn’t it amazing to realize how this ancient form echoes the brilliant dance of wiring which spins electricity safely into our homes, powering all manner of useful and practical (if not beautiful) things which we have come to rely on without question. I am now much more in awe of how humans have harnessed electricity, even if it still seems quite risky and dangerous! But I am also more amazed at the ability our hands have to work with opposing forces at our wheels, or while suspending spindles from fibers which are twisting into lovely yarns. Gratitude abounds all around!

‘Til next time…just keep spinning! And may your neutrals never fail! 🙏

Jennifer

1. I must say here how grateful I am for husband’s kind and patient description of electrical workings as having anything to do with spinning. He too has a fascination with the wheels I own, with how the spindles of all kinds achieve the same as the wheels, etc. I am a lucky gal to have a husband interested in the things I love. 💖 Thanks so much Mr. Edwards!

2. Check out this article for a more expansive and detailed description of the neutral’s function. 😃