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3 Phase Power vs Single Phase Power Electrical Control Panel Topics

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How does Electrical Power work? UL508AThirdPartySafetyApproval

Ifyourenotelectricallyminded,thinkof3PhasevsSinglePhaseelectricpowerassomethingeasiertovisualizelike
mechanicalpower.Theyreverydifferent,butbothdeliverpowerusingpressure(force)andflow(speed).Inboththe PanelBuildingsuccessfully
powerdeliverediscalculatedbymultiplyingpressure(force)timesflow(speed).
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Inmechanicalpower,manytermsdescribethepressureorforce(FootPounds,PoundsperSquareInch,etc.)and
manytermsdescribethespeedorflow(RotatingSpeed,GallonsperMinute,etc.).Inelectricpower,oneterm Top3ReasonstochangePanelShops
describesthepressureorforce(Voltage)andtwotermsdescribethespeedorflow(CurrentandAmperes).
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IntheearliestdaysDirectCurrent(DC),wherethepowerflowsinonedirectionlikeawaterhose,wasthestandardfor
deliveringelectricalpower.NowAlternatingCurrent(AC),wherethepowerflowisconstantlyalternatingdirection,is Why Choose us ?
thestandardfordeliveringelectricalpower.
ExperiencedPeople
ThestandardfordeliveringelectricalpowerchangedfromDirectCurrent(DC)toAlternatingCurrent(AC)because
EfficientBusinessOperations
AlternatingCurrent(AC)deliverselectricalpowermoreefficientlyoverlongdistances.
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IntheUS,60Hertz(cyclespersecond)istheAlternatingCurrent(AC)frequency.
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Insomecountries,50Hertz(cyclespersecond)istheAlternatingCurrent(AC)frequency.
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What is1 (Single) Phase Power ?
ElectricalControlPanelsforbeginners
Ifyourenotelectricallyminded,thinkof1(Single)phasepower
likeabicyclewhereonlyoneleg(phase)ispushingononepedal
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rotatingaroundacrankshaftaxis(neutral).

NEMAEnclosureRatingsforbeginners
1.Mechanically,poweriscalculatedaslegpressure(Foot
Pounds)timesspeed(RotatingSpeed). BestNEMAEnclosures
2.Electrically,poweriscalculatedaslegforce(Voltage)
timesflow(Current).
ElectricalPowerComponentsforbeginners

SinglePhasepowerisatwowireAlternatingCurrent(AC)powercircuit.Mostpeopleuseiteverydaybecauseitsthe
BestElectricalPowerComponents
mostcommonhouseholdpowercircuitandpowerstheirlights,TV,etc.Typicallytheresonepowerwireandone
neutralwireandpowerflowsbetweenthepowerwire(throughtheload)andtheneutralwire.
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IntheUS,120Visthestandardsinglephasevoltagewithone120Vpowerwireandoneneutralwire. BestElectricalControlComponents
Insomecountries,230Visthestandardsinglephasevoltagewithone230Vpowerwireandoneneutralwire.

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What is2 (Dual / Split) Phase Power ?

3PhasePowervsSinglePhasePower
Ifyourenotelectricallyminded,thinkof2(Dual/Split)phase
208VSinglePhaseand208V3Phase
powerlikeabicyclewhereoneleg(phase)canpush
ononepedal,orbothlegs(phases)canpushonbothpedals(180
degreesoutofphasewithoneanother)rotatingaround
acrankshaftaxis(neutral).

1.Mechanically,poweriscalculatedaslegpressure(Foot
Pounds)timesspeed(RotatingSpeed).
2.Electrically,poweriscalculatedaslegforce(Voltage)
timesflow(Current).

DualPhaseorSplitPhasepowerisalsoSinglePhasebecauseitsatwowireAlternatingCurrent(AC)powercircuit.
IntheUS,thisisthestandardhouseholdpowerarrangementwithtwo(PhaseA,PhaseB)120Vpowerwires(180

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2/12/2017 3PhasePowervsSinglePhasePowerOEMPanels
degreesoutofphasewithoneanother)liketwobicyclepedalsandoneneutralwire.Thisarrangementisusedinmost
UShouseholdsbecauseofitsflexibility.

Lowpowerloads(lights,TV,etc.)poweredusingeithereitherof(2)120Vpowercircuits
Highpowerloads(WaterHeaters,ACCompressors)poweredusing(1)240Vpowercircuit

What is3 (Three) Phase Power ?

Ifyourenotelectricallyminded,thinkof3(Three)phase
powerlikeathreecylinderenginewherethreepistons
(phases)located(120degreesoutofphasewithone
another)pushrotatingaroundacrankshaftaxis(neutral).

1.Mechanically,Imnotsurehowtocalculatethepower.
2.Electrically,poweriscalculatedascylinderforce
(Voltage)timesflow(Current)times1.732(Square
Rootof3).

ThreePhasepowerisathreewireAlternatingCurrent(AC)powercircuit.MostUScommercialbuildingsusea3
Phase4Wire208Y/120Vpowerarrangementbecauseofitspowerdensityandflexibility.Comparedtosinglephase,
a3phasepowerarrangementprovides1.732(thesquarerootof3)timesmorepowerwiththesamecurrentand
provides(7)powercircuits.

Lowpowerloads(Lights,etc.)poweredusinganyof(3)120Vsinglephasepowerpowercircuits
Mediumpowerloads(WaterHeaters,etc.)poweredusinganyof(3)208Vsinglephasepowercircuits
Highpowerloads(HVACSystems,etc.)poweredusing(1)208Vthreephasepowercircuit

MostUSindustrialfacilitiesusea3Phase4Wire480Y/277Vpowerarrangementbecauseofitspowerdensity.
Comparedto208V3Phase,480V3Phaseprovides2.3(480/208)timesmorepowerwiththesamecurrentor43%
(208/480)lesscurrentwiththesamepower.Thisyieldsadditionalbenefits.

Reducedconstructioncostswithsmallerelectricalservice,wiring,conduits,andelectricaldevices.
Reducedenergycostswilllessenergylostaselectricalcurrentresistance(convertedtoheat).

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