To form a star connection, one end of each phase winding is joined together to create a neutral point. The other ends of the windings are connected to outgoing conductors leading to the bus bar. This neutral point can either be insulated or connected to a neutral line, depending on the system design.

On ships, the neutral point is usually insulated to prevent the system from tripping in the event of a single earth fault. This is critical for maintaining power continuity to essential equipment like the steering gear, navigation systems, and emergency lighting.

By insulating the neutral, the system can tolerate one earth fault without immediate interruption, allowing time to locate and rectify the fault while ensuring continuous power supply. Only if a second earth fault occurs, creating a short circuit, will the protection system trip. This arrangement allows the ship to maintain essential operations.

In systems where the neutral point is earthed, any earth fault in the system will immediately create a fault current, causing the circuit protection (e.g., breakers or fuses) to trip. This configuration is common in high-voltage systems to ensure that faults are quickly isolated, preventing damage to equipment and reducing the risk of electric shock or fire.

Earthed neutral systems also simplify fault detection and protection mechanisms, making them suitable for vessels with high-voltage installations where rapid fault isolation is a priority.