Generally, yes. What you get depends on how the generator is wired. If
it's a Y connection, in the US, it'd typically be 120VAC from each line to
neutral. This is suitable for driving 120VAC single phase loads (you can
drive three single phase loads, one from each phase to neutral). If you
have a higher voltage load, you can connect it line to line to get 208VAC.
You can connect 3 single phase loads between the various lines.

If it's a 3 phase delta, they are generally, at least the ones I've seen,
are 240VAC line to line. One of the windings is center tapped and
connected to neutral. You can drive a pair of 120VAC single phase loads by
connecting them between one of these two lines and neutral. You can drive
a 240VAC load by connecting it across these two lines (acutally, across
any two lines would work). Finally, the "wild phase" is 208VAC to neutral.
Connecting a 120VAC single phase load from the wild phase to neutral will
quickly blow out the load.

For a little more on 3 phase Y and light dimmers, see
http://www.dovesystems.com/pages/apnotes/LDI2001/

Harold


> off topic:
>
> Can you get single phase AC from a three phase generator
> simply by not connecting two of the phases?
>
> Or is something else required or can this be done any way?
>
> Thanks
>
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