Eli5: What’s the difference between a single phase electric current versus a 3 phased one?
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3 phases of power can be delivered using 5 wires rather than the 6 you’d need to run 3 circuits that were all in the same phase, so as more power is transmitted the savings in the cabling alone can very significant (esp with high voltage transmission lines).
So in the UK for example the main grid and the stepdown stations etc will use 3 phase power, and then at the lowest level of substation the 3 phases will be split and distributed between houses and streetlights etc (1st house phase 1, next house phase 2, next house phase 3, next house phase 1 again etc) so in a single phase outage you might only lose 1 in 3 streetlights
Commercial premises with large electricity use will take 3 phase power which can be split for each circuit (so you don’t lose all your lights if one phase goes etc) and any large motors can be 3 phase motors which simplifies wiring and minimises vibrations etc and so tend to be more reliable
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