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  1. #1
    Bronze Member mikilianis's Avatar
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    3 Phase or 1 Phase.

    Regarding the electrical supply to a domestic dwellings.
    Some of the older houses in Cape Town have a 3 phase supply and the more modern ones have a 1 phase supply. Are there any advantages to having a 3 phase supply? What I am trying to query is whether it is worthwhile converting the dwelling into a single phase or just leaving it as 3 phase. I am often asked this question

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    there are only 2 advantages having a 3 phase supply at home...

    one 60 amps across the 3 phases which means you can have a total load of 180 amps...houses which have jacuzzi...pool...ducted aircons...etc etc...which use more than 80 amps need 3 phase power...they will not give you more than 80 amps single phase.

    and the other is if you have equipment which can only run on 3 phase.

    my advice if you lived in durban would be to keep it 3 phase...you ask why... because to increase from single phase to 3 phase would cost you around R25000.00 and if you already have it i wouldnt change it...unless the meter charge is higher.

    i always thought if the load wasnt balanced you paid more...but this is not the case...the meter measures each phase...

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    Diamond Member AndyD's Avatar
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    I don't see any good reasons to convert from three phase to single phase. As Murdock says, three phase can be an advantage to some consumers.
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    Gold Member Martinco's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AndyD View Post
    I don't see any good reasons to convert from three phase to single phase. As Murdock says, three phase can be an advantage to some consumers.
    Leave it as it is.................you will have to pay for a new meter (?) and have the DB redone, and besides, it is like swapping your 2010 Merc.with a full tank for a 2010 i20. and still having to fill up the i20. ( I have nothing against the Korean make, but just to illustrate )
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    as long as the 3 phase supply is not too low .i have seen quite a few 20 amp 2,5mm 3 phase supplies in older areas like obs and woodstock.you would have load balance very carefully.

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    Diamond Member AndyD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bergie View Post
    as long as the 3 phase supply is not too low .i have seen quite a few 20 amp 2,5mm 3 phase supplies in older areas like obs and woodstock.you would have load balance very carefully.
    Ah, this could be a different story I've only seen 50Amp domestic 3-phase supplies, if it's a 20Amp supply it would be a major problem to balance and avoid overload tripping.
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    Gold Member Martinco's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bergie View Post
    as long as the 3 phase supply is not too low .i have seen quite a few 20 amp 2,5mm 3 phase supplies in older areas like obs and woodstock.you would have load balance very carefully.
    Sounds as though these were the ones brought along on the Nina , Pinta and Santa Maria !
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    you should see the dis.boards in those old houses.a lot are still original,always installed in the passage just as you walk in the front door. you have to walk sideways to get around it. a big wooden board 2m high to fit the kwh meter. earth neutral connections,big fuse boxes,seperate fuse box for the stove. plenty of single core wire outside the boxes. some with no mods since new,except the "blou draad" fuse wire.no earth leakage relay,etc murdoch would have a field day with his camera

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