The electrician tells me I need "3 phase" electric in my building. What's that??

Answer 1

go to a shop and ask

Answer 2

There's alot of jargon in the electrical trade. 3 phase can mean several things. However, assuming your in the U.S. and assuming your "building" is commercial and you will be either running some large motors and/or some very bright lights, 3 phase electrical service is basically house current (two 120 volt lines) plus a higher voltage 240 volt line. These setups require a commercial meter and a 3 phase breaker panel. Your electrician may be trying to save you money. Copper wire is very expensive now. If you are wiring your building you can get twice the power thru the same gauge wire with the higher voltage. You really need to be discussing your needs and options with your electrician.

Three phase service is generally available in commercial/warehouse districts. It may or may not be possible to get this service in a residential area. You would have to ask your service provider.

Answer 3

There are two electrical systems common in the world: single phase (usually split phase, with two power wires and a ground wire), and three phase (with three power wires and a ground wire). Almost all electrical gadgetry can operate happily on single phase power, and if a house is wired for three phase (as is the case in Saudi Arabia and presumably a number of other countries), an individual electric outlet is just wired to one of the phases and to neutral. The one thing that might actually require three phase power is a large motor of some kind, such as an elevator motor or a large air conditioner. Ask the electrician what particular devices in the building need three phase power, and whether it is available from the power company in your area.

Answer 4

AC current comes in usually 3 phases, in which there are three lines carrying a single phase of current, one called Phase A, one Phase B and the third, Phase C. The current phase waveform in each line is 120 degrees out from the other two, so that the summed current phases of all three lines equals 360 degrees.

Without getting into boring details, most ac motors and appliances use three phase current to operate as it is the most efficient method for turning ac motors.

Bottom line: Virtually any commercial electric source (unless otherwise specified) is 3-phase, so if you hook up to a city or county power line, the electrician will run three-phase current into your building.

Answer 5

Three phase electric is usually needed for industrial appliations for (large) motors, and rarely used for residential applications. Your electrician may want you to have 3-phase, but your utility company may not be able to provide this, as it needs to come to you on three seperate lines. Are you running 1 horsepower electric engines for some application?

Answer 6

You don't need 3 phase unless you have 3 phase equipment. Shop machines, air conditioners, air handlers, etc. HOWEVER, give the choice, I'd get the 3 phase. Won't cost much more, may save you money in the long run.

Answer 7

I guess if you are going hat in hand to ask for a loan to save the American economy, you should expect to have some strings attached (unlike the AIG fiasco). The reason the Big 3 were so heavy into the suvs is because that is what was selling last year before the gas mess and they were profitable doing it. Hopefully the hybrids will come down in price and we all will benefit by them using less gasoline from the foreign countries that hate us so much. peace

Answer 8

It sounds like the size of the wireing that can safely carry the electrical power needed in the building...It could be "code" for your area. Just ask him...
hope this helped

Answer 9

It is 3 110 feeds but ask him what you need it for ?