What's the difference between single phase, and three phase electrical?

Answer 1

Phase difference.

1. A single phase generates a periodic wave (sin/cos) wave.

V=Vm sin(wt)

2. A dual phase generates two periodic waves (sin/cos) wave 180 degrees out of phase

V1=Vm sin(wt)
V2=Vm sin(wt + pi)

3, A three phase generates three periodic waves (sin/cos) wave 120 degrees out of phase (see ref)

V1=Vm sin(wt)
V2=Vm sin(wt + 2pi/3)
V3=Vm sin(wt + 4pi/3)

The three phase generation and motor application is most efficient.

Answer 2

Single phase AC is typically represented as a sinusoidal wave, representing voltage as a function of time.

Three phase AC is actually three phases, all separated by 120 degrees.

Three phase AC is more common in the industrial setting. It provides a more consistent voltage. One of the biggest advantages is that three phase motors are considerably more efficient (typ. 90-95% efficient) than single phase motors (typ. around 40-55% efficient).

In a single phase motor, you plug in two wires (hot and neutral, although ground is very common), however you need a starting circuit to begin rotation.

A three phase motor, on the other hand, takes four to six wires, however will naturally start and sustain rotation without any special wiring. The direction of rotation just depends on the order you plug the wires in (more specifically, the order you employ the phases in).

Answer 3

Electricity is produced by rotating a coil in a magnetic field.

When a single coil is mounted in an axle and rotated in a magnetic field, an alternating E.M.F is induced at the two ends of a coil.

Suppose there are 3 number of coils arranged such that each is separated by 360/ 3 = 120 angles in the axle and rotated, then at the two ends of each coil, E.M.F is induced.

Since each coil is separated by 120 degree, the instantaneous emf's induced in each coil will differ in phase by 120 degree.

This we call as 3- phase generator.

We can have any number of coils and we can have n- phase generator theoretically.

Answer 4

single phase is for residential and three phase is for industrial

Answer 5

Hard to explain without pictures. Try an internet search on "electrical distribution."

Answer 6

Depends !

using
center tap on secondary
not using
center tap on secondary
-------------------------------
hook ups -- systems
------------------------------
delta to delta (3 wire)
y to y (4 wire)
y to delta (4 wire to 3 wire)
delta to y(3 wire to 4 wire)


fingers are sore !