Posted: 7/3/2008 6:26:27 PM EDT
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I'm planning to order an electric cooktop. I have to choose an option of 220-240v 1 phase or 220-240v 3 phase. What is the difference? |
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220-240 volts single phase is supplied to a stove's heating elements by two "live" wires and a non working wire, the safety ground. 220-240 volts three phase is supplied to a stove's heating elements by three "live" wires and a non working wire, the safety ground. Three phase systems draw less current (amperage) per phase for the same total KW rating so they can be connected to smaller wires. BUT: ensure that you have three phase service in your main circuit breaker panel before ordering a three phase stove. Three phase service to your main breaker box can be identified by three "live" wires feeding the circuit breakers, and a neutral wire; so it's known as three phase, four wire service. In addition there is a non working wire known as the ground (not to be confused with the neutral conductor) _____________________________________________________________________________ If there are only two "live" wires feeding your main circuit breakers, and a neutral wire and ground wire; you have single phase, three wire service and can't use three phase equipment. _____________________________________________________________________________ Unless your home is heated by electrical baseboard radiation, with an electric hot water tank as well,; it's unlikely you have three phase service comming in from the utility. |
Alternating current. We all use it, unless your name is T.A. Edison. Think of AC as like a piston engine. And single phase is like a single cylinder engine. "Rough" as there is a "power cycle" every two revolutions (4-stroke). Ok, it is more like a 2-cylinder 4-stroke engine... 3-phase power has each phase offset by 120 degrees to "smooth" the "power flow", much like a 6-cylinder, 4-stroke engine. Advantage? Because each phase is offset 120 degrees, the three wires can carry more power than if they were single phase independent. And the real kicker? Big motors operate much better, not needing a start-run capacitor. And they rock in efficiency. |
Yep, and it's all based on magic and vague words like Wye and Delta. You don't want anything to do with it, it's the work of the devil! Doesn't this look like a pentagram with incantations?  mysite.du.edu/~jcalvert/tech/threeph.htm |
This was pretty much the explanation I was after, thanks. I do not use it for anything, but I find electrical theory quite interesting. |
Three phase power is actually three AC voltages out of phase. In big induction motors you get more torque and when all phases complete one cycle the motor does one revolution. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphase_system |
Easy way to tell* - if your circuit breaker panel has one of these as a Main (usually the one at the top labeled 100/125/150/200 - should be the biggest in the box): You have two "hots" (mains) coming in - 220/240 Single Ø If it looks like this:  You have three "hots" (mains) - thus three Ø Odds are, as others have said, unless you live in a loft, warehouse, or other converted industrial occupancy, you probably have 220/240 Single Ø * barring some weird application, antique boxes or unusual main breaker amperage. |
Don't confuse electric induction cooktops with the standard electric range. Induction rocks. Heats up super fast. Cools off super fast. No open flame. Heat transfer is much more efficient. Can put hand on burner about 5 seconds after taking boiling pot off "burner". Boil water in 30 seconds. The one. |
You must have cast iron or stainless steel. Aluminum barely gets hot. Anything non-metal is a no-go. |
LOL!  As an ex industrial electrician I find that hilarious. I spent years working with 3 phase stuff almost exclusively. The fun part was hooking up a 3 phase motor, seeing which direction it rotated, and correcting the rotation direction by reversing any 2 of the 3 power wires - AND THEN trying to explain "phase sequence" to a newbie. Most of the stuff I worked with was 480 volt 3 phase, but sometimes 240 volt domestic or 380 volt foreign stuff. The higher voltage stuff produces more spectacular fireworks when it gets accidentally hosed down or physically shorted.  |
Yeah, and not all of those work either, I bought an asparagus steamer that wouldn't work on our induction, and it looked EXACTLY like the rest our all-clad 
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