De La Salle University

College of Engineering
Electronics and Communications Engineering

Experiment Number : 1
Experiment Title : Voltage and Current Relations in Balanced and Unbalanced Three-Phase Load
Date Performed : July 31, 2017
Date Submitted : August 7, 2017

Instructor :
Subject/Section : LBYEC75
Group Number :
Group Leader : Alemania, Troy Alisther
Group Members : Aniceto, Sonny Boy
Ardan, Hanna
Castor, Charles
Roque,Earl

Presentation :
Data and Results :
Analysis and Conclusion:
Answers to Questions :
Total :
Remarks
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

Instructors Signature :______________________

 I. Objectives

1. The student must be able to show the relationship of between the line and phase
voltages and line and phase currents in balanced and unbalanced three phase
connected loads.
2. They must also learn how to make balanced and unbalanced three phase loads in wye
connection and delta connection.

II. Introductory Information or Theory

For several reasons, power and electric energy distribution in three phase voltages and
currents is more economical than single phase currents and voltages. In a balanced three
phase system, the phase voltages have the same magnitude V P and the same frequency but
they differentiate themselves from each other by having a 120 degrees phase angle between
them. To show what the vectors of these three phase voltages look like, Figure 1.2 shows a plot
of these voltages with the corresponding phase angle difference of 120 degrees following a
positive phase sequence of a-b-c.

Three-phase systems are essential due to the following reasons:

1. Almost all electric power is produced and distributed in three phase system. One-phase
or two-phase inputs are obtained from three phase system instead of generating
separately.
2. The instantaneous power in this system is not pulsating, the outcome is uniform power
transmission.
3. It is economical. Three-phase reduces the wire needed especially if the system is
balanced.

Figure 1.2
The voltages generated are 120 degrees apart from each other.

Figure 1.3 Vector Diagram

eAN = EANmsint t volts
eBN = EBNmsin( t 120 ) volts
eCN = ECNm sin( t 140 ) volts = ECNm sin(t+120) volts
where :
EAN = maximum value of voltage in phase a
EBN = maximum value of voltage in phase b
ECN = maximum value of voltage in phase c
In the frequency domain, the effective values of the voltages equations are :
EAN = | EAN | < 0 volts
EBN = | EBN | < -120 volts
ECN = | ECN | < +120 volts
where :
EAN = effective value of voltage in phase a
EBN = effective value of voltage in phase b
ECN = effective value of voltage in phase c

The Line to Neutral voltages are EAN, EBN and ECN.

The Line Voltages or the Line to Line voltages are EAB, EBC and ECA.
The voltages have equal magnitudes but are 120 apart from each other.

E= | EAN | = | EBN | = | ECN |

EL = | EAB | = | EBC | = | ECA |

where:
E = magnitude of the phase voltage
EL = magnitude of the line voltage

The Line voltages can be obtained by adding the corresponding Line to Neutral
Voltages. The vector addition is illustrated in Figure 1.4.

EAB = EAN + ENB

EBC = EBN + ENC
ECA = ECN + ENA
By analyzing the Figure 1.4a, Figure 1.4b and FIgure 1.4c the relationship of the magnitude of
the line voltage to the magnitude of the phase voltage is obtained.
EL = 3 x E

Phase currents are currents that flow through the windings.

Line currents are currents that flow out of the line terminals of the nodes A, B, C.

The Phase currents are INA, INB and INC.

The Line currents are IAA, IBB and ICC.

The Phase currents and the Line currents are equal.

INA = IAA
INB = IBB

INC = ICC

Therefore
IL = I

Note : The phase voltages have equal magnitudes but are 120 apart from each other
and the same applies to the phase currents.

Phase Voltages : EAB, EBC, ECA

Line Voltages : EAB, EBC, ECA
Phase Currents : IAB, IBC, ICA
Base on the figure node A is the same as node A the same applies to node B to node
B and node C to node C. Therefore, the phase voltage EAB and the line voltage EAB,
are connected in parallel since they have two common nodes. Parallel connections
have the same magnitude of voltages. Hence, the Phase voltages are equal to the Line
voltages.
EAB = EAB
EBC = EBC
ECA = ECA

By applying the Kirchoffs Current Law in node A. The current going in node A is ICA
while the currents going out of node A are IAB and IAA This is also applicable to node B
and node C. The following equations are obtained.
IAA = ICA IAB
IBB = IAB IBC
ICC = IBC ICA
By analyzing Figure 1.6a, Figure 1.6b and Figure 1.6c, the relationship phase current to
the line current is obtained.

|IAA|= 3 x |ICA| = 3 x |IBA|

|IBB|= 3 x |IAB| = 3 x |ICB|
|ICC|= 3 x |IBC| = 3 x |IAC|

Designating the following notations to denote that

EL = magnitude of a line voltage
E = magnitude of a phase voltage
IL = magnitude of a line voltage
I = magnitude of a phase voltage

will lead to obtaining the equalities

EL = | EAB | = | EBC | = | ECA |
E = | EAB | = | EBC | = | ECA |
IL = | IAA | = | IBB | = | ICC |
I = | IAB | = | IBC | = | ICA |

Consequently, in a delta connected source or load

EL = E
IL = 3 x I

Analyzation of a three phase system where in the loads are connected in wye
The three phase system sources are balanced thus
| Vab | = | Vbc | = | Vca | = VL
| Van | = | Vbn | = | Vcn
| = V
The assigned reference vectors are the phase voltages Van, Vbn and Vcn. The sequence
of the phase is positive a-b-c. The phasor forms of the phase voltages are :
Van = | Van | < 0 volts
Vbn = | Vbn | < -120 volts
Vcn = | Vcn | < +120 volts
The phasor forms of the line voltages are :
Iaa = Ian = Van / Zan
= Vbn
Ibb = Ibn / Zbn
= Vcn
Icc = Icn / Zcn

A balanced three phase system load have impedances with equal magnitudes currents
with equal magnitudes
Zan = Zbn = Zcn
Ian = Ibn = Icn

An unbalanced three phase system load have impedances with unequal magnitudes but
the connected to a balanced three phase source.
Zab Zbc Zca
VL = | Vab | = | Vbc | = | Vca |
Base on the phase sequence ab-bc-ca with balanced magnitudes and 120 apart.
Vab = | Vab | < 0 volts
Vbc = | Vbc | < -120 volts
Vca = | Vca | < +120 volts
The equations of the phase currents calculated using the complex forms with magnitude
and angles or direction.
Iab = Vab / Zab
Ibc = Vbc / Zbc
Ica = Vca / Zca

Materials
1 - EMS Three-Phase Power Supply module
3 - Digital AC Ammeter (0-10 AAC)
1 - Digital AC Voltmeter (0-300 VAC)
1 - EMS Incandescent Lamp Module (25 W, 50 W, and 100 W Bulbs)
1 - EMS Incandescent Lamp Module (3 100 W Bulbs)
15 - Connecting Wires

III. Procedure

Run1: Unbalanced Three Phase Load in Delta

1. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 1.9
CAUTION: The experiment involves high voltages. One must not make any connections
or remove any connection while the power supply is switched ON. The power supply should be
turned off every after measurement.
2. If you are unsure with the connections that you made, let your instructor check your
connections.
3. Before turning on the switch of the power supply, first make sure that the plug is inserted
to an AC outlet. Then set the meters to the right rangers and switch ON the power
supply.
Note: Once one of the fuses is found blown, verify to it:
a.) The circuit has a wrong connection
b.) Inspect the proper connections of the ammeters and voltmeters
c.) Check if there are damaged wires or wires that are not working.
4. Switch ON the switch Sw1 of the power supply module. Measure and Record in Table
1.1 the phase currents I AC , I BC , and I CA .
5. Switch ON the TPST, or the ganged switch, Sw2. Measure and record in Table 1.1 the
line currents I AA , I B B , and I C C .
 6. Measure and record in Table 1.1 the phase voltages V AB , V BC , and V CA with the use
of an AC voltmeter. Note that in a three phase delta load, the phase voltage is equal to
the line voltage.
7. Turn off the Power Supply module.
8. With an assumption of a positive phase sequence ab-bc-ca and setting V AB as the
reference phasor, express the measured phase voltages and measured phase currents
in phasor form and record them in Table 1.2.
9. Compute for the line currents I AA , I B B , and I C C using the phasor form of the phase
currents. Record them in Table 1.2.
10. Compute for the percentage difference between the measured line current values that
you obtained in the experiment and the computed line current values in Table 1.2.
Record them in Table 1.3.

Run 2: Balanced Three Phase Load in Delta

Using the same circuit connection as shown in Figure 1.9. This time replace the
unbalanced load of 25-watt, 50-watt, and 100-watt bulbs with three 100-watt bulbs to form a
balanced three phase load in delta connection.
1. Turn ON the switch Sw1 of the power supply.
2. Measure the phase currents I AC , I BC , and I CA and record them in Table 1.4. Solve for
the average of these phase currents and record it in Table 1.4 as I measured where
I measured = ( I AC + I BC + I CA ) /3.
3. Measure the line currents I AA , I B B , and I C C and record them in Table 1.4. Solve for
the average of these line currents and record it in Table 1.4 as I L measured where
I L measured = ( I AA + I B B + I C C ) /3.
4. Turn off the switch Sw1 of the power supply module.
5. Using t he relationship between the line currents and phase currents in a balanced three
phase delta load, compute for the value of I L computed and record it in Table 1.4.
6. Compute for the percentage difference between I L measured and I L computed . Record the %
difference in Table 1.4.

Run 3: Unbalanced Three Phase Load in Wye (Y)

1. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 1.10.
2. Check your circuit connections again and if you are still unsure of the connections,
approach your instructor and let him/her check your connections.
3. Turn ON the switch sw1 of the power supply module and then switch ON the TPST
switch or ganged switch sw2 and measure the line currents I AA , I B B , and I C C and
record them in Table 1.5. Take note that in a three phase load in wye connection, the
line currents are equal to the phase voltage.
4. Measure and record in Table 1.5 each the phase voltages V AN , V BN , and V CN and
the line voltages V AB , V BC , and V CA with the use of an AC voltmeter.
5. Turn OFF the switch of the power supply module.
 6. With an assumption of a positive phase sequence ab-bc-ca and setting V AN as the
reference phasor, express the measured phase voltages in phasor form and record them
in Table 1.6.
7. Compute for the line voltages V AB , V BC , and V CA using the phasor form of the phase
voltages and record them in Table 1.6.
8. Compute for the percent difference between the measured line voltage values that you
obtained in the experiment and the computed line voltage values from Table 1.6. Record
them in Table 1.7.

Run 4: Balanced Three Phase Load in Wye (Y)

1. Using the same circuit connection as shown in Figure 1.9. This time replace the
unbalanced load of 25-watt, 50-watt, and 100-watt bulbs with three 100-watt bulbs to
form a balanced three phase load in wye connection.
2. Turn ON the switch sw1 of the power supply module.
3. Measure the phase voltages V AN , V BN , and V CN using an AC voltmeter and record
them in Table 1.8.
4. Measure the phase voltages V AN , V BN , and V CN and record them in Table 1.8.
5. Turn OFF the switch of the power supply.
6. Obtain the average of the measured phase voltages and record it in Table 1.8 as
V measured where V measured = ( V AN + V BN + V CN ) /3.
7. Obtain the average of the measured line voltages and record it in Table 1.8 as
V L measured where V L measured = ( V AB + V BC + V CA ) /3.
8. Using the relationship between the line voltages and phase voltages in a balanced three
phase wye load, compute for the value of V L computed and record it in Table 1.8.
9. Compute for the percentage difference between V L measured and V L computed . Record the
% difference in Table 1.8.

IV. Data and Results

Table 1.1. Unbalanced 3 phase Load in Delta, measured values:

I AB I BC I CA I AA I B B I C C V AB V BC V CA

0.220 A 0.403 A 0.108 A 0.287 A 0.546 A 0.466 A 222.5 V 227.3 V 221.9 V

Table 1.2. Unbalanced 3 phase Load in Delta, computed values:

V AB V BC V CA I AB I BC I CA I AA I B B I C C

222.50 227.3 221.9 0.2200 0.403 0.108 0.2895 0.5472 0.4665

V -120 V 120 V A -120 A 120 A -18.85 -140.4 71.57
A A A
 Table 1.3. % Difference Between Measured and Computed Values:
I AA I B B I C C

0.8673 % 0.2195 % 0.1072 %

Table 1.4. Balanced 3-phase Load in Delta

I AB I BC I CA I meas I AA I B B I C C I L meas I L comp % Dif f

0.419A 0.400A 0.403A 0.407A 0.717A 0.719A 0.697A 0.711A 0.705A 0.85%

Table 1.5. Balanced 3-phase Load in Delta

I AA I B B I C C V AN V BN V CN V AB V BC V CA

0.181 A 0.217 A 0.096 A 160.7 V 70.6 V 175.1 V 227.0 V 222.1 V 222.1 V

Table 1.6. Unbalanced 3 phase Load in Wye , computed value:

Phasor Form Computed Values

V AN V BN V CN V AB V BC V CA

160.70V 70.6-120V 175.1120 205.315 219.104 290.900

V 17.325V -76.204V 148.582V

Table 1.7. % Difference between measured and computed Line Voltages:

V AB V BC V CA

8.034% 3.672% 26.911%

Table 1.7. Balanced 3 phase Load in Wye:

V AN V BN V CN V meas V AB V BC V CA V L meas V L comp % Dif f

129.0V 132.3V 127.1V 129.47 228.5V 222.7V 222.2V 224.47 224.25 0.098%
 V. Analysis and Conclusion

During the experiment, one supply was measured and it was not equal from the other
two. It was higher (230V) compared to the other two (225V and 225V). It is because of the
voltage from the Distribution Center (MERALCO). Since the two are close to each other, the
other property (I, Current in Amperes), yielded the same result (one is different from the two
other results). According to our instructor the nominal supply source is 220V.
Analyzing the data gathered from the experiment, we observed that the line current
formula (e.g., I AA = I CA I AB ) holds true for both balanced and unbalanced three phase loads in
delta connection. While the line voltage formula (e.g., V AB = V AN + V N B ) holds true for both
balanced and unbalanced three phase loads in wye connection.
By looking at the schematic diagram of balanced three phase loads connected in wye, it
can be seen that the phase current being experienced by a load is equal to the line current
current of the line connecting the load to the three phase power supply and this is always true
for this kind of connection. This was also observed during the experiment but it was not required
to measure these approximately equal currents. On the other hand, if you look at the schematic
diagram of a balanced three phase load connection in delta, it can be seen that the phase
voltage being experienced by a load is equal to the line voltage between a pair of ends of the
three phase power supply. Again this was observed during the experiment while operating in
balanced three phase load connection in delta but it was not required to measure these
approximately equal voltages.
In balanced three phase loads in wye connection, the values that we obtained for each
of the line voltages are almost similar to each other which is to be expected in this kind of
connection. The same can be said to the phase voltages of this kind of connection. By getting a
percent difference of 0.098% between the average of the measured line voltages and the
computed line voltage, this supports the statement that the line voltages are similar to each
other in balanced three phase loads connected in wye. Also, it is only in this kind of connection
where the line voltage is equal to 3 times the phase voltage.
Moreover, in balanced three phase loads in delta connection, the values that we
obtained for each of the line currents are almost equal to each other which is to be expected in
this kind of connection and the same goes for the three phase currents. This statement can be
supported by the percent difference that we obtained between the average of the measured line
currents and the computed line current which is 0.85%. Moreover, it is only in this kind of
connection wherein the line current is equal to 3 times the phase current.

VI. Answers to Guide Questions

1. In a wye (Y) connected 3-phase circuit, if the line-to- line voltage is 346 volts, what is the
line-to-neutral voltage?
V L = 3V N
346 = 3V N
V N = 199.76 V
2. In a delta connected three-phase circuit, the current is 20 amperes in each resistance
load. What is the line current?
For delta connected three phase circuits:
I L = 3I N
I L = 3(20)
I L = 34.64 A

3. In a wye connected three-phase circuit, the line current is 10 amperes in each resistance
load. What is the line current?
For wye connected three phase circuits:
IL = IN
I L = 10 A

4. Three resistors, each having a resistance of 11 ohms, are connected in delta across a 3
phase, 440-volt source. What is the line current drawn by the delta load from the source?
V = IP R
V 440
IP = R == 40 A
11
I L = 3I P = 3(40) = 69.28 A

5. What is the ratio of the line current drawn by the same identical impedances connected
in wye ( I LY ) to the line current drawn by the same identical impedances connected in
delta ( I L ) when both connections are connected to the same balance three-phase
source?
For delta:
V L = 3V P
VL
V P = 3
IL = IP
VP VL
Z =
I P = 3I
L
VL
I L = 3Z

For wye:
V L =V P
I L = 3I P
VP 3V L
Z =
I P = I L
3V
I LY = Z L
Getting the ratio of the two currents calculated:
I LY
I L = ( 3V L
Z )( )
3Z
VL
I LY
I L =3