Eli5: What’s the difference between a single phase electric current versus a 3 phased one?
In: 18
Imagine 3 points on a circle equally spaced apart, and another point in the centre of the circle.
When we talk about 3 phase, we are talking about the voltage between the 3 points on the outside of the circle. When we talk about single phase, we are talking about only one (any one) of the outside points and the point in the centre.
The distance between the outside points are further away from each other, which is kind of the same as a higher voltage between each of the 3 phases, compared to the distance from one of the points to the centre.
The peak voltage between one outside point and the others changes in a kind of rotational “dance”. Big heavy motors are able to use this as it is like having a little extra help to get started.
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