3 phase power question

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JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,738
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2a) A 3-pole breaker would be 3 phase 120. plain and simple.
2b) Would be 3 phase 480.

Look at a wye and a delta transformer and it makes more sense, like the other poster said, phase to ground/neutral produce a voltage and phase to phase creates a different voltage, the rest is just single or 3 phase

<--Electrician

for 120/208v transformer, why is 3pole breaker= 120v 3phase, but 277/480v transformer, 3pole breaker = 480v 3phase?
 

TheSiege

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2004
3,918
14
81
for 120/208v transformer, why is 3pole breaker= 120v 3phase, but 277/480v transformer, 3pole breaker = 480v 3phase?

Well it depends on what kind of panel it is. It could be a 3 phase 277. Or it could be a 3 phase 480 panel, but most likely it is 3 phase 277 in commercial applications. Unless there are alot of motors for pumps and such, then it could be a 3 phase 480 panel.
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Yeah, I know all about that whole "right gauge wire for the current needed thing." Whatever. You just cannot beat the fact that w/220v at the outlet you can plug in an OVEN or a DRYER with it's own normal plug. No special breaker, no special 4-prong-with-2-prongs-in-an-elipse-so-u-don't-fry-the-frickin'-east-coast-grid shape or whatever. You just plug it in. What a concept? Yeah, 50Hz can be a PITA when using a transformer; it changes voltage but not freq. But other than that "antiquated 220v" has 110v beat to heck, period. Bigass hammer drill? Plug it in! 2Kw power amp? Plug it in! 15K BTU air conditioner? Plug it in! US power sucks.
 

TheSiege

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2004
3,918
14
81
Yeah, I know all about that whole "right gauge wire for the current needed thing." Whatever. You just cannot beat the fact that w/220v at the outlet you can plug in an OVEN or a DRYER with it's own normal plug. No special breaker, no special 4-prong-with-2-prongs-in-an-elipse-so-u-don't-fry-the-frickin'-east-coast-grid shape or whatever. You just plug it in. What a concept? Yeah, 50Hz can be a PITA when using a transformer; it changes voltage but not freq. But other than that "antiquated 220v" has 110v beat to heck, period.

its also alot more dangerous, the only benefit is have lower gauge wire needed. But id much rather have 3 or so 50 amp 2 pole breakers with specific plugs, then have 220 running trough my house. especially with kids.
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
its also alot more dangerous, the only benefit is have lower gauge wire needed. But id much rather have 3 or 50 amp 2 pole breakers with specific plugs, then have 220 running trough my house. especially with kids.


I have kids too. Using "safer for kids" as an argument is like saying "I'd rather my kid gets run over by a bus instead of a cement mixer!" :eek: Sorry...not a good argument.

I've used a bigass hammer drill on a skinny 100-foot extension cord (on a 220v outlet). No perceptible difference in performance...and the cord didn't get warm. Unbelievable? NO! It's 220v!!!
 

TheSiege

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2004
3,918
14
81
I have kids too. Using "safer for kids" as an argument is like saying "I'd rather my kid gets run over by a bus instead of a cement mixer!" :eek: Sorry...not a good argument.

I've used a bigass hammer drill on a skinny 100-foot extension cord (on a 220v outlet). No perceptible difference in performance...and the cord didn't get warm. Unbelievable? NO! It's 220v!!!

So have I, on 110v, It just takes more amps. And the argument is more like, My kid getting bit by a yorkie or a pitbull, I'll take the yorkie any day if the week.
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
Yeah, I know all about that whole "right gauge wire for the current needed thing." Whatever. You just cannot beat the fact that w/220v at the outlet you can plug in an OVEN or a DRYER with it's own normal plug. No special breaker, no special 4-prong-with-2-prongs-in-an-elipse-so-u-don't-fry-the-frickin'-east-coast-grid shape or whatever. You just plug it in. What a concept? Yeah, 50Hz can be a PITA when using a transformer; it changes voltage but not freq. But other than that "antiquated 220v" has 110v beat to heck, period. Bigass hammer drill? Plug it in! 2Kw power amp? Plug it in! 15K BTU air conditioner? Plug it in! US power sucks.

The reason appliances have 4 prongs is because of safety for the person using them and similar plugs are required in foreign countries. You don't go around houses there plugging dryers and ovens into the same outlet as the tv. The only advantage is smaller wires but that doesn't matter in the short distances inside a home. 60hz vs 50hz give me 60hz any day over 220v vs 110v, I can design around the limitations of the voltage easily, but increasing the frequency, that takes work.
 

PM650

Senior member
Jul 7, 2009
476
2
0
Stop posting 180 degrees out of phase! It's a real PIA to reverse the polarity of my display to read what you post! :hmm:

Actually I'm pretty sure a full rotation is 540º in australia...disappointed you didn't know this :\
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
485
126
Actually I'm pretty sure a full rotation is 540º in australia...disappointed you didn't know this :\

1080 in Aussie. Someone hit their head on the toilet while counting revs before going down and realized 1080 would be a good number of lines for HDTV format! :hmm:
 

TheSiege

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2004
3,918
14
81
Ok, To clear things up, think of a triangle as delta, from one angle to another is 1 phase with 2 points. that is 240v, 1 phase but with 2 hots, cut it in the middle for a neutral and you have 2 120v sources still 1 phase. 277/480 is the same concept except it is in a Y transformation, its also the same for 120/208. because you cant exactly cut the Y in half where all the phases meet (middle). you dont get exactly half thats why you get 277 and not 240. you get 3 phase 480 when you take a hot from all points of the Y and you have no neutral. 3 phase 277 is when you take 3 hots and you tap the middle for a neutral. hope this helps a little more
 
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Sea Moose

Diamond Member
May 12, 2009
6,933
7
76
Ok, To clear things up, think of a triangle as delta, from one angle to another is 1 phase with 2 points. that is 240v, 1 phase but with 2 hots, cut it in the middle for a neutral and you have 2 120v sources still 1 phase. 277/480 is the same concept except it is in a Y transformation, its also the same for 120/208. because you cant exactly cut the Y in half where all the phases meet (middle). you dont get exactly half thats why you get 277 and not 240. you get 3 phase 480 when you take a hot from all points of the Y and you have no neutral. 3 phase 277 is when you take 3 hots and you tap the middle for a neutral. hope this helps a little more

I was just about to say this!!! Really!