Difference Between Single Phase and Three Phase Power Supplies

In this tutorial, we will learn the differences between Single Phase and Three Phase AC Power Supplies. We will see few basics of single phase and three phase systems, advantages and disadvantages and also some key differences between single and three phase power supplies.

Single Phase and Three Phase Power Supplies

Almost 90% of the electrical energy we use in our day-to-day life is from alternating source. Be it our home appliances, office equipment or industrial machines, we use AC source to power these devices.

If you are a beginner, then Alternating Current or simply AC is a type of electric power in which the electric current changes periodically, both in magnitude and direction. Further, depending on the application, AC Power can be delivered in either a Single Phase or a Three Phase system.

A Single Phase AC Power system consists of two wires known as the phase (or sometimes a Line or Live or Hot) and the neutral wire. In case a three phase system, you use either three wires or four wires for transmitting power (no neutral in three wire three phase power and all the three wires are phases).

Let us now go into the details of single phase and three phase systems and also see the difference between single phase and three phase power supplies.

What is Single Phase Power Supply?

As mentioned earlier, in a Single Phase Power Supply, the power is distributed using only two wires called Phase and neutral. Since AC Power takes the shape of a sinusoidal wave, the voltage in a single phase supply peaks at 90⁰ during the positive cycle and again at 270⁰ during the negative cycle.

The phase wire carries the current to the load and the neutral wire provides the return path of the current. Usually, the single phase voltage is 230V and the frequency is 50Hz (this depends on where you live).

Since the voltage in a single phase supply rises and falls (peaks and dips), a constant power cannot be delivered to the load.

Advantages

• It is very common form of power supply to most small power requirement. Almost all residential supplies are single phase supplies as the domestic appliances require a small amount of power to run lights, fans, coolers, heaters, small air conditioners etc.
• The design and operation of a single phase power supply system is often simple.
• Depending on the region, a single phase supply is sufficient for loads up to 2500 Watts.

Disadvantages

• Small single phase motors (usually less than 1kW) cannot start directly with the help of a single phase supply as there isn’t sufficient initial torque for the motor. So, additional circuitry like a Motor Starters (like a starter capacitor in fans and pumps) are needed for proper operation.
• Heavy loads like industrial motors and other equipment cannot be run on a single phase supply.

What is Three Phase Power Supply?

A Three Phase Power Supply consists of three power wires (or the three phases). Additionally, depending on the type of the circuit (which there are two types: Star and Delta), you might or might not have a neutral wire. In a three phase power supply system, each AC Power Signal is 120⁰ out of phase with each other.

In a three phase power supply, during one cycle of 360⁰, each phase would have peaked in voltage twice. Also, the power never drops to zero. This steady stream of power and ability to handle higher loads makes a three phase supply suitable for industrial and commercial operations.

As mentioned earlier, there are two types of circuit configurations in a three phase power supply. They are the Delta and the Star (Y or Wye). In Delta configuration, there is no neutral wire and all the high voltage systems use this configuration.

Coming to a star or wye configuration, there is a neutral wire (the common terminal/point of the star circuit) and a ground wire (sometimes).

The voltage between two phases in a three phase power supply is 415V while that between a phase and the neutral is 240V. Hence, you can provide three single phase supplies using a three phase supply (this is how it is normally done for residential and small business loads).

NOTE: There is a difference between a direct three phase supply and a three phase supply split into three single phase supplies.

Advantages

• For the same power, a three phase power supply uses les wire than a single phase power supply.
• Three phase power supply is usually the preferred network for commercial and industrial loads. Although in some countries (like most European Countries, for example), even the residential supply is a three phase supply.
• You can run larger loads very easily.
• Large three phase motors (usually used in industries) do not require a starter as the phase difference in the three phase power supply will be sufficient to provide enough initial torque for the motor to start.
• Almost all the power generated in a three phase power. Although there is a concept of multi-phase power, studies found that a three phase power supply is more economical and easy to produce.
• The overall efficiency of the three phase power supply is higher when compared to that of a single phase power supply for the same load.

Difference between Single and Three Phase Power Supplies

Let us now take a look at the difference between single phase and three phase power supplies.

• In a single phase power supply, the power is supplied through two wires called Phase and neutral. In three phase power supply, the power is supplied through three wires (four wires if neutral wire is included).
• The voltage of single phase supply is 230V whereas it is 415V in a three phase supply.
• For the same amount of power, a single phase supply requires more wire that that of a three phase supply.
• The efficiency of a three phase power supply is significantly higher than a single phase supply and the power transfer capability is also more.
• Since a single phase power supply uses only two wires, the overall complexity of the network is less when compared to a four wire three phase supply (neutral included).

Comparison of Single Phase and Three Phase Power Supplies

Let us now see the comparison of Single Phase and Three Phase Power Supply Systems in a table.

Do You need a Three-Phase Power Supply?

Depending on your requirement, your power distribution company will suggest either a single-phase power supply or a three-phase power supply. For small homes and shops, a single-phase supply is sufficient.

But if you have a large home with three to four air conditioning units (all might run at a same time), water heaters, big submersible pump, washing machine, double-door refrigerator etc., then you might need a three-phase supply so that load on each phase is distributed properly.

Since we don’t have direct three-phase devices, what the power distribution company does is that the three-phases from the three-phase supply are given as three separate single phase supplies. For example, if you have three bedrooms with three ACs, then each room will be provided with a different phase.

It is common for apartments and communities to have dedicated transformers so that they can step down 11kV which comes directly from the substation to 240V without depending on the street transformer.