Can you explain the difference between single phase and three phase. This is in regards to electricity.?

Answer 1

Well, because of the construction of any generator (which is actually a sincron c.c motor) there is a displacement of 3 coils de-fazed in space, on a circle (because there is a rotating piece--the rotor <>)--with 120 geometrical degrees (360/3).
There will be at a certain rotational speed of the rotor against the static coils on the stator, an electric current called "alternative", or "a.c.". That's because , unlike "continuous" current, the "c.c." is changing its polarity many times a second. This changing in polarity is called the frequency of a.current (we all have it in the energy suppliers at our homes). This is measured in Hertz.
I say this because is common parameter ONLY for the alternative current. The continuous current doesn't have "phases". It only have a stable polarity: the "-" and "+" wires.
On the a.c. this + and - are combined all together in ONE WIRE called "phase".
Now, because we know about the phases, we should know that in 3 phases generator (there's no such thing as 1 or 2 phase generator), the current will be provided by all 3 cables (each one for one phase) in which the phases will be delayed in shifting the +on - or viceversa with 120 degrees or in time with the speed of the rotor per second divided by 3.
There are electric engines (for powerful motors, with more than 1 kilo Watt of power) which uses all three phases and here are a bunch of possibilities on tiding all 3 coils of the engine (which will utilize these 3 phases).
In our homes and other civil buildings there is a energy supply with one phase and "zero" wire. All the appliances which uses the a.c electric energy, uses only one phase.
Regarding the 3 phased electric engines, they can use all those 3 phase, with or without the "zero" wire. That's simply because the delaytment in shifting between phases the "+" polarity from one wire meets the "-" of another so the current will flow, and than another "+" wire will provide the current with the previous"-".
The connections between the 3 coils in an engine or (heating resistances--which work on exactly the same pattern as the coils on the 3 phased motors) are made in "star" or "triangle"(or delta) displacement.
This means that in "star" connection, the three phases meet in the middle (of a star with 3 arms) and there is or may be not the "zero"(known as "neutral") wire connected also.
On the other hand the "triangle"--delta-- connection is formed by coupling the ends of a coil with the next one forming a closed loop, or in this case a triangle. The 3 phases will be provided on the connections of two consecutive coil ends.
These arrangements are made because one of them is more powerful and it request a lot of energy before the starting of the rotation of the rotor, and might burn up the wires.That's why this kind of motor comes out equipped with both of the arrangements , being started on one, and than on full speed shifted on the other.
Dfriend:)

Answer 2

The single phase motor will have probably no more than 4 leads coming from the windings. A 3 phase motor will have 6 or more. If the wires are marked with an A B or C it's 3 phase. This is usually a crimped ring around the wire. It could be a dual voltage motor with different ways to hook it up for either 230 V 3 phase or 480 V 3 phase. If single phase, it will be a 240 Volt.

Answer 3

In a single phase alternating supply, the voltage varies rapidly and smoothly from (say) plus 120 volts through zero to minus 120 volts in one-hundredth of a second, then back up through zero to plus 120 volts in the next hundredth of a second.

If a second supply starts its cycle one-third of one-fiftieth of a second later than the first one, and a third supply the same amount later again, you have three phases. Each phase is a good single phase, but there are clever ways of using all three at once in industrial-grade equipment.

Answer 4

All electricity is generated and distributed using a 3 phase supply. this supply feeds a transformer that changes the supply from 3 phase/3 wire to 3 phase/4 wire. The fourth wire is a neutral that if you connect one live wire and the neutral, you have a single phase supply. If you use all 3 live wires you have a 3 phase supply

Answer 5

By practicality, all power supply deliever via 3 phase from delta-star transformer. Center of the delta-star transformer (Particularly on the start part) will be acting as neutral and earth.

3 phase is where you will get all from the Star Transformer. Whereas 1 phase is from one part of the Star Transformer with respect to Center (Neutral).

Normally there is no different. It is all depending on where youa re going to use it. If for a small residential house, you will go for single phase. If factory, shop houses and big building, warehouse and so on, then you will need 3 phase supply.

Answer 6

Both 1-phase and 3-phase circuits are alternating current circuits. To transfer the power in the one-phase circuit, we need two wires. In some circuits there is a third wire which is connected to the system ground. The power in the 1-phase system is calculated as
P=V*I*PF
power factor is the cos of the voltage-current angle displacement.

The three phase circuit consists of thee voltages displaced by 120 deg.
It requires three wires to transfer power in this system. The power in this system is calculated as
P=V*I*(sq root3)*PF.
This is probably the main advantage of the 3-phase over 1-phase systems as it can be seen that only one additional wire can transfer more power by a factor of 1.73 (square root of 3).

Answer 7

The only diffirence is the application of the circuit, Higher voltage applications such as induction motors & heating elements are designed for 3-phase 220v. Single Phase will most always be 110v-128v

Answer 8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_phase_power