Eli5: What’s the difference between a single phase electric current versus a 3 phased one?
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Electrical Engineer here with a focus in power. I’ve always wanted someone to ask. So…you mentioned single phase vs 3 phase so I’ll assume we are only talking AC power. Though I’d be just as happy to compare contrast AC/DC.
Single phase power can NOT deliver constant power. Because it varies it’s magnitude this can be bad for power systems. Imagine a light that was always flickering or a motor that would spin fast and then slow that’s not very good for people or machines.
As for why use three phase? It’s a ratio. Three phases gives you the BEST output of power and consistency with the least amount of copper. Metal and wire costs money.
Why not two phase ? Or four, or five ? You totally could. It’s just that three phase happens to be the most power given for each additional wire (for all sorts of mathy reasons.)
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