Uk 3 Phase Electric V Usa ?

[Clarich]

Hope someone can help.

I have very little electrical experiance at all! A Project at work here in the UK has seen me help with the design and layout of a new factory for our company in America.

The factory will be similar to our factory here in terms of production requirements. Some of our machinery here uses a 3 phase supply (air extraction fans, sewing machines woodworking machines), as opposed to a standard 3 pin plug.

'3 Phase' doesn't exist as such in the USA I don't believe, as they (builders) don't understand what we mean by this.

How can I best explain what we will require for certain bits of kit when they're installed.

This all needs to be in layman's terms, so that both I and our Plant Manager in the USA can understand what we need to ask for.

thanks in advance...

Richard.

 

[Andy™]

iirc its mostly split phase 110-220v they use. i think they do use 3 phase but at 200 and something volt, not 400v. you are best speaking to the supplier of the equipment you intend to use over there and ask what the requirements are, and then pass that info to the electrician who is doing the work

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

I think they have split phase giving 110v on each pole, so 220v between.

Live is the 'Hot' cable & earth is  'Ground'

Thats all i know  !

 

[septiclecky]

Try this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_wiring_in_North_America

 

[ProDave]

Definitely DO have 3 phase in the USA. I've installed several control cabinets on 3 phase supplies.  Mostly 208V P-P but sometimes 480V

You have a whole new set of terminology to learn, and if you are supplying equipment to be installed there, a whole lot of new regulations and standards to learn.

 

[Evans Electric]

Clarich,  Not many of us here are familiar with the  US wiring system  unfortunately .

As said above , voltages are definitey different  so  machines designed for the UK will be of no  use unless converted.   They do use 3 phase but probably have another name for it .........as someone once said ...." Two nations divided by a common language" ..... I think they use 220V  3 phase  and 110V single phase .   

 

[Phoenix]

AFAIK They have so many different systems in use in the USA, its confusing.

I think I common one uses a transformer that has a delta wired secondary, with the Neutral/earth point connected centre tap on one winding.

Which gives you 120v on Black phase, 120v on red phase, and 208v on blue phase which they call the wild leg.

There are other systems as well

 

[Andy™]

AFAIK They have so many different systems in use in the USA, its confusing.

I think I common one uses a transformer that has a delta wired secondary, with the Neutral/earth point connected centre tap on one winding.

Which gives you 120v on Black phase, 120v on red phase, and 208v on blue phase which they call the wild leg.

There are other systems as well

found the diagram for that earlier - 4 wire delta wiring. weird. but then the Yanks dont do anything the easy way. and another one for delta with 1 end connected to earth. along with a note of something to do with saving money by only having to insulate 2 of the conductors instead of 3

 

[kerching]

I believe they also strap the neutral to earth in the FIRST board within an installation and then keep them all separate in the other boards....a sort of half arsed TNCSTNSISH

Typical Yanks.....no heritage of their own that they can talk about so they have to make stuff up to fill a "need"

 

[Phoenix]

Yes, corner grounded delta, not so sure its about number of insulated conductors, but it does mean you can can have a three phase circuit that only needs 2 fuses or DP breaker.

In addition they have star based systems like us. with 120 P-N and 208 P-P. As well as 277 P-N and 480 P-P both available

 

[Clarich]

Thanks for all these replies, guys. Its probably not the builders that're asking these questions...more likely to be the building architects to be honest. All the equipment that'll be purchased will be sourced from the US anyhow. We just need to get the initial services (compressed air and electric) specced at this stage.

Currently theres a plot of land with a few trees on it. By November there'll be a fully functioning 80k sq ft factory!

 

[Marvo]

It does very much depend on where in the us. They certainly do have 3 -phase and it could be 110v L-N or 230v L-N depending on where.