8/31/2019 3 Phase Power vs Single Phase Power • OEM Panels

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3 Phase Power vs Single Phase Power Control Panel Builder Topics

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How does Electrical Power work? Electrical Control Panel Builders can help
If you’re not electrically minded, think of 3 Phase vs Single Phase electric power as something easier to visualize like
mechanical power. They’re very different, but both deliver power using pressure (force) and flow (speed). In both the Electrical Control Panel Design basics
power delivered is calculated by multiplying pressure (force) times flow (speed).
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In mechanical power, many terms describe the pressure or force (Foot Pounds, Pounds per Square Inch, etc.) and many
terms describe the speed or flow (Rotating Speed, Gallons per Minute, etc.). In electric power, one term describes the Panel Building successfully
pressure or force (Voltage) and two terms describe the speed or flow (Current and Amperes).
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In the earliest days Direct Current (DC), where the power flows in one direction like a water hose, was the standard for
delivering electrical power. Now Alternating Current (AC), where the power flow is constantly alternating direction, is the Why OEMs Change Panel Builders
standard for delivering electrical power.
What do we provide?
The standard for delivering electrical power changed from Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC) because
Alternating Current (AC) delivers electrical power more efficiently over long distances. Experienced People
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In the US, 60 Hertz (cycles per second) is the Alternating Current (AC) frequency.
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In some countries, 50 Hertz (cycles per second) is the Alternating Current (AC) frequency.

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What is 1 (Single) Phase Power ? UL Panel Safety Certification

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If you’re not electrically minded, think of 1 (Single) phase power
like a bicycle where only one leg (phase) is pushing on one pedal
rotating around a crankshaft axis (neutral). Electrical Control Panel Topics

1. Mechanically, power is calculated as leg pressure (Foot

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Pounds) times speed (Rotating Speed).
2. Electrically, power is calculated as leg force (Voltage)
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times flow (Current).

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Single Phase power is a two wire Alternating Current (AC) power circuit. Most people use it every day because it’s the
most common household power circuit and powers their lights, TV, etc. Typically there’s one power wire and one neutral
wire and power flows between the power wire (through the load) and the neutral wire. Electrical Power Components for beginners

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In the US, 120V is the standard single phase voltage with one 120V power wire and one neutral wire.
In some countries, 230V is the standard single phase voltage with one 230V power wire and one neutral wire.
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What is 2 (Dual / Split) Phase Power ? 3 Phase Power vs Single Phase Power

If you’re not electrically minded, think of 2 (Dual / Split) phase 208V Single Phase and 208V 3 Phase
power like a bicycle where one leg (phase) can push
on one pedal, or both legs (phases) can push on both pedals (180 240V 3 Phase and 240V Single Phase
degrees out of phase with one another) rotating around a crankshaft
axis (neutral). 480V 3 Phase US industrial power

1. Mechanically, power is calculated as leg pressure (Foot

Pounds) times speed (Rotating Speed).
2. Electrically, power is calculated as leg force (Voltage)
times flow (Current).

Dual Phase or Split Phase power is also Single Phase because it’s a two wire Alternating Current (AC ) power circuit. In
the US, this is the standard household power arrangement with two (Phase A, Phase B) 120V power wires (180 degrees

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8/31/2019 3 Phase Power vs Single Phase Power • OEM Panels
out of phase with one another) like two bicycle pedals and one neutral wire. This arrangement is used in most US
households because of its flexibility.

Low power loads (lights, TV, etc.) powered using either either of (2) 120V power circuits
High power loads (Water Heaters, AC Compressors) powered using (1) 240V power circuit

What is 3 (Three) Phase Power ?

If you’re not electrically minded, think of 3 (Three) phase
power like a three cylinder engine where three pistons
(phases) located (120 degrees out of phase with one another)
push rotating around a crankshaft axis (neutral).

1. Mechanically, I’m not sure how to calculate the power.

2. Electrically, power is calculated as cylinder force
(Voltage) times flow (Current) times 1.732 (Square Root
of 3).

Three Phase power is a three wire Alternating Current (AC) power circuit. Most US commercial buildings use a 3 Phase
4 Wire 208Y/120V power arrangement because of its power density and flexibility. Compared to single phase, a 3 phase
power arrangement provides 1.732 (the square root of 3) times more power with the same current and provides (7)
power circuits.

Low power loads (Lights, etc.) powered using any of (3) 120V single phase power power circuits
Medium power loads (Water Heaters, etc.) powered using any of (3) 208V single phase power circuits
High power loads (HVAC Systems, etc.) powered using (1) 208V three phase power circuit

Most US industrial facilities use a 3 Phase 4 Wire 480Y/277V power arrangement because of its power density.
Compared to 208V 3 Phase, 480V 3 Phase provides 2.3 (480 /208) times more power with the same current or 43%
(208/480) less current with the same power. This yields additional benefits.

Reduced construction costs with smaller electrical service, wiring, conduits, and electrical devices.
Reduced energy costs will less energy lost as electrical current resistance (converted to heat).

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