Dictionary of Electrical Engineering

Commonly used terms in the Electrical industry.

balanced line
symmetric multiconductor transmission line in which the voltage on each conductor along the transmission line
has the same magnitude, but the phases are such that the voltage would sum to zero. In a two conductor transmission line, the voltages would be equal and 180 degrees out of phase. This is the equivalent of a virtual ground plane or zero E-field plane at the geometric center plane of the transmission line cross section, or balanced with respect to virtual ground. Balanced wiring configurations are often used to prevent noise problems such as ground loops. Contrast with unbalanced line.
unbalanced line
refers to a signal carrying line where one of the conductors is connected to ground. Contrast with balanced line.