What voltage should a meter indicate between the neutral and the ground on a 208/120 V, 3-phase, 4-wire system?

What voltage should a meter indicate between the neutral and the ground on a 208/120 V, 3-phase, 4-wire system?

• A. 120
• B. 208
• C. 0
• D. 240

Answer: (C)

Neutral and ground are bonded together at the service equipment, so they sit at the same electrical potential. In a 208/120 V, 3-phase, 4-wire system, this means the voltage between neutral and ground should be effectively zero volts during normal operation. If a meter ever shows a small reading, it’s usually due to measurement setup, wiring impedance, or “ghost” voltage from nearby energized conductors, not a real neutral-to-ground potential difference.

Neutral and ground are bonded together at the service equipment, so they sit at the same electrical potential. In a 208/120 V, 3-phase, 4-wire system, this means the voltage between neutral and ground should be effectively zero volts during normal operation. If a meter ever shows a small reading, it’s usually due to measurement setup, wiring impedance, or “ghost” voltage from nearby energized conductors, not a real neutral-to-ground potential difference.