Hi All,

Yeah, I know, its something that I should probably know already, but I
have never seen an explanation, so I'll ask anyway:

Does anyone have a quick explanation on why it is better (more
efficient?) to use 3 phases instead of two on industrial equipment?

Thanks,

Sean



On Tue, 21 Jul 1998, Mike Keitz wrote:

> On Tue, 21 Jul 1998 15:46:42 +0200 Morgan Olsson <mrt@INAME.COM> writes:
> >At 08:49 1998-07-21 -0400, you wrote:
> >>The 120/240 single phase power ( two lines and a neutral) basically
> >goes
> >into every home. The connection is simply a centre tapped transformer.
> >>
> >>Low power appliances (TV, lights, ...) run on 120 V. Higher power
> >loads
> >(stove, clothes dryer, electric furnace,...) run on the 240 V supply.
> >
> >What kind of wall outlet connectors are used?
>
> Various connectors are used, keyed to the current capacity of the
> circuit.  For stoves and clothes driers a rather large plug maybe 2"
> across is used, rated 30 or 50A.  Large window-mounted air conditioners
> use a plug about the same size as a 120V plug, only with the blades
> aligned differently (horizontal instead of vertical) so it is impossible
> to interchange.  These are rated for 20 or 25A.  Generally the 240-volt
> outlets are installed in specific places where the appliance is expected
> to stay, and have an individual circuit in the breaker box.  Furnaces,
> water heaters, central air conditioners, etc. are wired in permanently.
>
> Most of the plugs are 3-wire, having the two hot wires and safety ground.
>  Generally the appliances operate everything on 240V working between the
> two hot wires.  In some cases the appliance derives a 120V circut between
> one hot wire and ground, which is allowed by many codes.  There are also
> 4-wire plugs and sockets that seperate the ground and neutral circuits.
>
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