What is the difference between phase to phase and phase to ground and will it affect my appliance?

Question

Bringing new 220v washer dryer from US to UK.

Answer 1

Phase to phase has both wires at AC sinusoidal non-zero voltage. Neither of the two wires is at a fixed zero-volt ground.

Phase to ground has only one of the two wires at AC sinusoidal voltage. The other is fixed at zero volt ground.

It seems bringing those U.S. phase to phase motors to UK phase to ground 220V uses should not be that non-nonfunctional. (Bringing something on the reverse path may cause electrical shock to the users.) But the motors should get weaker and less energy efficient, and may overheat under high wash loads.

There may be other solenoid control and timing circuits that might not work right with a shift from 60 to 50 Hz base frequency. The magnetic force to switch the relays become weaker. And the timings, based on cycles count, become longer.

Answer 2

In the UK we use single phase, the Live, sometimes called Active overseas, is measured between one phase and neutral. I think the generator is "star delta" wound and the neutral being the centre of the winding. It may be some voltage above earth. I have often found it to be 7-10v. Unlike Australia where house supplies have their neutral strapped to earth at the house entry point. In the UK street distribution will try to balance the load for each phase. If house supplies in the USA have available 3 phase and run their appliances between two, IE not between neutral and one phase (110v) then the appliance would be using the 220v supply. Other issues such as 50 cycle and 240v in the UK may result in higher running current. I have not come across any adverse reports.


The following posting is not correct. :-

"The UK has a normal 3 phase 440 v supply. In the home we use 2 of the phases. The potential difference between phases in the UK is 240v. Thats root 3 x 440 = 240 v"

We use only one phase and neutral. The voltage between any two phases being 440v.

Answer 3

A phase is a Positive line in America each phase is 110v
so phase to phase = 220v. there will be number of volts to be added or subtracted say 10 percent then the operating range will be188v to 242 volts. In this country Phase to Phase voltage is 398 v. However Phase to ground, which is the voltage that domestic premises have, is 230v + or - 10 percent so operating range is 207 to 252 volts. So it will probably work as long as the electronics, if it has any, aren't to delicate.
There is another problem though the motor speed. In America frequency is 60 c/s in GB its 50 c/s So the spin speed will be slower. Your wash times will also alter depending if you have a electronic timer or synchronised motor timer. If it has electronics in the machine they will not last as long as they were designed for.

The machine guarantee will of course will be void.

IMPORTANT
It will be entirely your responsibility if things go wrong.

Id sell it in America and get a new one here.

Answer 4

I'd advise reconsidering, there are 2 big problems with the power supply:

supply frequency will be a big problem, the unit will be designed to operate at 60Hz not 50Hz

Voltage will also be wrong

the American definition of phase to phase would be the equivalent of phase to neutral in the UK. the American earth position is effectively halfway between phase and neutral where the UK earth to neutral
(essentially you will have a 115V short circuit as soon as you turn it on)

the trouble is that an American washer/dryer will be earthed differently from a UK one, the American one may well cause a short circuit here due to the different methods of wiring.

Answer 5

phase to phase of 220 volts is the same everywhere. Phase to ground(neutral) is 110 volts.

The only problem that may come up is that the US uses 60 Hz alternating voltage and Europe use 50Hz. This might not make any difference but then again it might. The motor might be wound for 50 HZ. Look at the rating on the appliance and see if it says something like 60/50 Hz. You'll probably be ok.

Answer 6

The Uk has a normal 3 phase 440 v supply. In the home we use 2 of the phases. The potential difference between phases in the uk is 240v. Thats root 3 x 440 = 240 v

The potential difference between any phase and ground or earth should be zero. If the potential difference is above zero you would have an earth leak. Your mini circuit breaker should trip to protect you from earth leakage faults. An earth leak between phases. Would cause a short circuit. Fuses are used for short circuit protection.

Answer 7

Goodness me...I'm new here but I have to express my shock at some people answering questions which they think they know the answer to but clearly do not. TMNASN you are completely wrong. Youre anser is dangerous.

The Voltage between phases is 440Volts. In a house there is 240 volts to nuetral and 240volts to earth.

Specifically Phase to Phase voltage in UK would be 440 but you are not likely to meet this voltage in a domestic house as most domestic dwellings have only one phase and a neutral supplied.

Phase to ground would be 240 Volts in the UK..or the same as Phase to Nuetral. This has to do with transformer grounding and i dont wish to go into it here.

Whatever you do be careful. Somepeople will self appoint themselves as experts on subjects they clearly know little of.

Answer 8

Phase to phase voltage is actually referred to as the line voltage. ie on a typical house you have 110volts from phase to ground(neutral) where as from phase to phase the voltage would be 220 volts (line voltage). There should not be any problems with the washer due to the fact that the regular voltage in the UK is 220 volts.

Answer 9

In the UK the voltage measured between phases is 240v*sqrt3= 415v.
Residences in the UK use single phase (phase+neutral), as indeed you do in the US, 240v 50Hz.