In a balanced 3-wire circuit from a single-phase 230/115-volt system, the neutral conductor should carry:

In a balanced 3-wire circuit from a single-phase 230/115-volt system, the neutral conductor is specifically designed to carry the unbalanced current in each ungrounded conductor. This occurs because in a balanced load scenario, the currents in the ungrounded conductors are equal and opposite, effectively canceling each other out, which means the neutral does not need to carry any current in those instances.

However, if there is an imbalance due to one ungrounded conductor carrying more load than the other, the neutral conductor will then carry the difference between these two currents. Therefore, it is the unbalanced components of the current that flow through the neutral conductor as it serves to complete the circuit for any discrepancies in current.

This understanding is crucial for electrical design and safety, as well as for effective load balancing in electrical systems. Balancing loads helps in reducing neutral current, which contributes to system efficiency and longevity.