I always wondered how that works? Do you have phases 180° against each other? Our (Europe) phases are at a 60° angle to each other, so while one phase is 230v, two phase is 400v.
My understanding is commercial/industrial service is normally 3-phase but residential service is typically only single-phase. Wikipedia says that gets supplied as two 120V AC lines that are 180° out of phase with each other along with a shared neutral.
I’m no electrician, but my understanding is that the phase of 120v has two opposite polarities, given the way AC power works. By pairing up two powerlines that are out of phase, you’re getting 120v on the positive and 120v on the negative, which doubles the capacity along the parallel line. If you did this with a 110v half-line like the UK has, it increases the Amperage to an unsustainable level, while the US standard does not stress the line in the 240v configuration specifically because neither phase causes the other interference.
I normally don’t say this, but don’t trust my assessment. Google will be more accurate.
GlitchyDigiBun@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Ah, but can you phase-multiply 120v± into a 240v feed from the breaker? Checkmate, firestarter!
zout@fedia.io 2 months ago
I always wondered how that works? Do you have phases 180° against each other? Our (Europe) phases are at a 60° angle to each other, so while one phase is 230v, two phase is 400v.
jqubed@lemmy.world 2 months ago
My understanding is commercial/industrial service is normally 3-phase but residential service is typically only single-phase. Wikipedia says that gets supplied as two 120V AC lines that are 180° out of phase with each other along with a shared neutral.
GlitchyDigiBun@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I’m no electrician, but my understanding is that the phase of 120v has two opposite polarities, given the way AC power works. By pairing up two powerlines that are out of phase, you’re getting 120v on the positive and 120v on the negative, which doubles the capacity along the parallel line. If you did this with a 110v half-line like the UK has, it increases the Amperage to an unsustainable level, while the US standard does not stress the line in the 240v configuration specifically because neither phase causes the other interference.
I normally don’t say this, but don’t trust my assessment. Google will be more accurate.
Valmond@lemmy.world 2 months ago
At least I’ll heat my home!