Vocational Training Council

Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education / Chai Wan

Department of Engineering Management of Technology

Module Name: Electrical Technology MEC4105

Laboratory Sheet : 02

Student name: _______________ _____ Course/Year: __ __________ Date: _____

3-Phase Circuit
▪ To study the relationship between lines and the phase voltages and currents
of a 3 phase star-connected system with balanced load;
▪ To study the phase displacements in a 3 phase 3 wire, star-connected system
in positive sequence with balanced load;
▪ To study the relationship between lines and the phase voltages and currents
of a 3 phase, 4 wire star-connected system with unbalanced load;
▪ To study the relationship between lines and phase voltages and currents of a
3 phase delta-connected system with balanced load;
▪ To study the relationship between lines and phase voltages and currents of a
3 phase delta-connected system with unbalanced load

Equipment/Components Required

 LabVolt 3-phase AC supply

▪ 3-phase resistor module
▪ Digital Multimeter

Ver Author(s) Date Remark

1 hcho 04-2013
2 wwng 05-2013
3 tfning 06-2014 Revert: Cancellation of Simulation

Lab 2 –V3- Page 1 of 8

PART A: BACKGROUND
Introduction
1. Three Phase Supply System

Referring to Figure A1, the AC 3-phase 4-wire system is available from a star-
connected three phase power windings. To distinguish one phase from another,
each phase is color coded in R (red), Y (yellow) and B (blue) respectively.
Therefore, an AC power can be supplied to various loads as required by the
consumer, including

 1-phase, 2-wire load with either of one phase and the neutral line;
 3-phase, 3-wire load with three phases only;
 3-phase, 4-wire load with three phases and the neutral together.

Figure A1
R line

Y line
B line

Neutral
(N)

N B N Y N R N B Y R B Y R

Three phase, Three phase,

2 wire system 3 wire system

Three phase,
4 wire system

Say, each supply winding gives 220V AC. Then, we have

VRN = VYN = VBN = 220 V and
VRY = VYB = VBR = 380 V

Lab 2 –V3- Page 2 of 8

2. Three Phase Load
In the 3-phase, 3-wire supply, the load can be either star-connected or delta-
connected, which are shown in Figure A2 and Figure A3 respectively.
IR IR
R R
I1
ZR ZBR
ZRY
ZB
IY I3
IY
Y ZY Y
I2 ZYB
IB
IB
B B

Figure A2 Figure A3

Star-connected loading condition: 3-phase 4-wire load is also supported.

The arrangement is shown in Figure A4.
IR
R

ZR
IN
N ZB

Y ZY
IY
IB Figure A4
B
In RYB sequence and VRN is selected as the reference phasor, the phasor
relationship between the line voltage and the phase voltage for Figure A4 can
be summarized in Table A1.

VRY = VYB = VBR = VL = Line Voltage

VRN = VYN = VBN = VPh = Phase Voltage
o
VRN = Vph ∠0
o
VYN = Vph ∠-120
o
VBN = Vph ∠+120
o
VRY = VL ∠+30
o
VYB = VL ∠- 90 Table A1
o
VBR = VL ∠+150
VL = 3 VPh
For Balanced star-connected load : i.e. ZR = ZY = ZB
IL = IPh ; IN = IR + IY + IB = 0
For Unbalanced star-connected load : IL = IPh , but IN = 0 ; VL = 3 VPh
Lab 2 –V3- Page 3 of 8
 Delta-connected loading condition: In RYB sequence and I1 is selected as
the reference phasor, the phasor relationship between the line voltage and the
phase voltage for Figure A3 can be summarized in Table A2.

VRY = VYB = VBR = VL = Line Voltage

VL = VPh = Phase Voltage
o
VRY = VL ∠0
o
VYB = VL ∠- 120
VBR = VL ∠+120o
o
VRN = Vph ∠-30 Table A2
o
VYN = Vph ∠-150
o
VBN = Vph ∠+90
Balanced delta-connected load: i.e. ZRY = ZYB = ZBR
 Line Current IR= IY= IB= IL ; IL = 3 IP ; VL = VPh
Unbalanced delta-connected load : VL = VPh , but IL = 3 IPh

In phasor representation, the phasor diagrams of Figure A3 and Figure A4

circuit can be shown in Figure A5 and Figure A6 respectively.
IB IB
VBR VBN
VBR IB
I3 VRY



VRY VRN

  IR
IY IY

I1
I2
VYN

Fig A5 VYB IR Fig. A6

VYB

Fig. A5 and Fig. A6, the angle  is determined by the phase impedance.
Power factor of the balanced load can be given by : p.f. = cos 
If the 3-phase load is NOT balanced, this should be noted that the phase
displacement of the loading current are NOT equal to 120o.

Lab 2 –V3- Page 4 of 8

Electrical Technology MEC4105
Lab 2 : 3-Phase Circuit
Name: ________________________ Course/Yr: _______________ Class: ___ Date:

B1. Balanced Star-connected load for a 3-phase 3-wire system

Figure B1.1 0-220/380V variable AC supply
4/L1 5/L2 6/L3 N LabVolt 3-phase AC supply
1

I1 I2 I3 DAQ Ammeter Unit

1.1K 1.1K 1.1K Resistive Load

O

1.1 Connect the circuit as shown in Figure B1.1

1.2 Measure the line and phase voltages with the Digital Voltmeter (DMM)
1.3 Adjust the variable AC supply to Phase voltage = 44V (VL1O = 44V)
Phase Voltage, Vph Common Point
Line Voltage, VL
(i.e. Voltage across the load) Voltage
VL12 VL23 VL31 VL1O VL2O VL3O VNO

Explain why Neutral current=0A between terminal N and O

Ans. At balanced loads, VNO =________V . Therefore Neutral current = 0A
1.4 Measure the line current
Line Current, IL = Phase Current, Iph
IL1 IL2 IL3

1.5 Calculate the ratio of line voltage / phase voltages. Does it equal to 3 ?
Ratio, (VL / Vph)
VL12 / VL1O VL23 / VL2O VL31 / VL3O

Lab 2 –V3- Page 5 of 8

B2. Unbalanced Star-connected load for a 3 - phase 4 -wire system

Figure B2.1 0-220/380V variable AC supply

4/L1 5/L2 6/L3 N LabVolt 3-phase AC supply
1

I1 I2 I3 IN DAQ Ammeter Unit

4.4K 2.2K 1.1K Resistive Load

O

2.1 Switch OFF the 3-phase supply source and connect Figure B2.1circuit;
2.2 Adjust the variable AC supply to 44V, measure the Unbalanced current;
Line Current, IL = Phase Current, Iph Neutral current
IL1 IL2 IL3 IN

2.3 Set the Load to balanced condition at 1.1K Ohm, record the current again;

Line Current, IL = Phase Current, Iph Neutral current

IL1 IL2 IL3 IN

2.4 Check by calculation to check Neutral current = SUM of three Line currents.
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Lab 2 –V3- Page 6 of 8
3. Delta-connected Balanced load for a 3-phase 3-wire system

3.1 Switch OFF the 3-phase supply. Connect the circuit as shown in Fig. B3.1

Fig. B3.1 0-220/380V variable AC supply

4/L1 5/L2 6/L3 N
1

DAQ Ammeter Unit:

I1 I2 I3 I4 I 4 is used to measure
Iph (e.g. I12) one by
one

I12 I23

I31

Balanced 3-phase resistor each =

1.1K
3.2 Measure the line and phase currents;
Phase Current, Iph Line Current, IL
I12 I23 I31 IL1 IL2 IL3

3.3 Calculate the ratio of the line current / phase current; Does it equal to 3 ?
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
4. Unbalanced Delta-connected load for a 3-phase 3-wire system
3.4 Switch OFF the 3-phase supply. Change the load as Unbalanced Load;
with 1.1k, 2.2k & 4.4kΩ resistors
3.5 Measure the line and phase currents with the Digital Multimeter;
Phase Current, Iph Line Current, IL
IL12 IL23 IL31 IL1 IL2 IL3

Lab 2 –V3- Page 7 of 8

PART C: DISCUSSION
1. For 3-phase balanced star connected load, comment whether the neural line is
necessary for the balanced star-connected load. Explain your point in details.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

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2. For 3-phase 4 wire unbalanced star connected loads, explain the need of the
neutral wire and comment on relationship between the neutral and line currents.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. For 3-phase balanced delta connected loads, comment on the relationship

between the phase and line currents.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. For 3-phase unbalanced delta connected loads, show by calculation that the
value of the 3 line current is equal to the difference between its phase currents.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

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SUMMARY : Summarize what you have learnt from this experiment.

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Lab 2 –V3- Page 8 of 8