If current is allowed to go to ground without using the neutral conductor,
EMFs around the unbalanced cables and raceways could cause problems.
...not to mention making GFIs and their safety characteristics useless.
R.E.
OK, as long as you are talking about downstream of the main panel. But if you are talking about between the service transformer and the main transformer, these comments do not apply.
HR.
The only place the neutral is to be bonded to ground is at the service entrance. Neutrals carry current ! That is the return path for your single phase circuits. You don't want ground carrying current. If you take your neutral to ground at your outlet, this creates a parallel current path through your ground. What would happen if you lost the ground connection at your outlet from the rest of the system? Now the box (If metal) can be carrying current. You could get bit. The neutral is safe to touch as long as it is at ground potential. !!!!! Don't go grabbing the neutral !!!!!! Just trust me !!!
If the neutral at your outlet is isolated from the neutral going all the way back, and let say there is a neutral from a lighting circuit tied into it, if someone were to turn on the light switch, you would read almost full voltage on the neutral. This could be a very dangerous situation.
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