When it comes to understanding single phase vs. three phase power, the terms can be hard to comprehend – particularly if you’re not familiar with the way modern electrical systems work. In simple terms, these phrases refer to two types of power supplies used for different applications and building types.
For most business owners and their employees, knowing the basics is often enough. However, understanding how these power systems work can help you choose the right services for your organisation, such as our full-service, innovative colocation hosting services.
If you’d like to find out more about how our solutions work, we’ll be happy to help – please get in touch here for more information.
What’s the Difference Between Single Phase and Three Phase Power?
So, exactly what is single phase and three phase power?
The term ‘single phase power’ refers to an alternating current power circuit with two wires – one wire is the neutral wire, with the remaining wire being the single power wire (sometimes known as the one phase wire). Because there is only one power wire, single phase power provides one alternating current that flows in a consistent wave, useful for providing electricity and power to a standard home.
On the other hand, three phase power uses three power wires to deliver electricity. The electrical currents are staggered to provide a more stable and consistent connection for commercial and industrial purposes.
Single phase power typically operates at a lower voltage, making it more suitable for smaller loads. However, three phase power ensures a steady flow of power, which makes it particularly suited to industrial and commercial settings like power distribution units (PDUs) in data centres.
How Are Single Phase and Three Phase Power Applied in Practice?
1 phase and 3 phase power are usually used for different applications, with each one being suitable for different purposes. As previously stated, single phase power tends to be used for residential power supplies, whereas three phase power is more suitable for industrial buildings and commercial environments like colocation data centres.
In most cases, single phase power supplies are used for lighting and heating loads, whereas three phase power supplies will often be utilised for higher loads such as electric motors. A three phase power supply will also usually be used for situations where even brief power interruptions could be highly detrimental.
Examples of these facilities include hospitals and power plants, both of which require constant power to function properly. 3 phase connections can also carry up to 415 volts (as opposed to the 230 volts that 1 phase power typically reaches), making it more suitable for applications requiring a higher voltage.
However, despite being largely used for domestic power distribution systems, single phase power can still be used for office environments. What’s even more interesting is the fact that three phase power can be converted to single phase power. If you only require one phase power, converting can have many benefits:
- If you have three phase power but need to use single phase equipment, converting can ensure your compatibility needs are met.
- Using three phase power can be expensive if it’s not required, so converting to single phase power can help you save money
- Converting to single phase power can also simplify wiring and make maintenance easier.
Which Power Configuration Do Data Centres Use?
Typically, data centres and colocation hosting facilities use 3 phase power. This configuration is commonly used to deliver electricity and power to data centres, as well as a range of other industrial buildings that have a high level of demand.
Data centre design tends to be vast in terms of size, meaning that huge amounts of electricity are required, as well as a stable connection. This is because even the slightest interruption could have an immensely detrimental effect on the businesses involved. On the other hand, residential buildings are less vulnerable to power outages like this, so there’s little need for 3 phase power in homes.
It’s worth noting that three phase power supplies usually require higher insulation costs than their 1 phase alternatives, which may make it harder for homeowners to afford these configurations. However, with a data centre, the cost for the resources is split between the different companies hiring the facility, splitting the cost further.
Essentially, a three phase power supply is much more efficient than a single phase power supply, making it more suitable for facilities that require Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) like our colocation hosting data centres.
1 Phase vs 3 Phase Power: The Benefits of Each Power Configuration
There are many benefits to using 1 phase and 3 phase power – which one you choose to go with will depend largely on your own personal circumstances and business needs.
| The Benefits of 1 Phase Power | The Benefits of 3 Phase Power |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As you can see, both three phase and single phase power have their own unique advantages. However, we recommend using single-phase power for general home and office use, with three-phase power being more suitable for large industrial settings.
Make the Right Choice to Power Your Future
We hope that the dilemma of single phase vs three phase power has now been solved for you, with this blog acting as an in-depth guide into the subject. Unless you’re running a large facility where uptime is a must, you’ll likely want to choose single phase power for your business or office space.
If you’d like to see some of the benefits of 3 phase power but it’s out of your budget at the moment, our colocation hosting services may be of use. At M247, we’re a premier connectivity partner based in the UK, offering a range of innovative solutions for modern brands, including our business leased lines and our managed SD WAN services.
To see how we can help your business grow, please speak to a member of our dedicated team here.
Additional reading:
The post Single Phase Vs Three Phase: Understanding the Difference appeared first on M247.