getting three phase power

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>

Upon reading the Tariffs and Rules for Southern California Edison (lively
stuff, that), I ran across an interesting note in "rule 2"
(http://www.sce-dot-com/005_regul_info/tm2/pdf/Rule2.pdf).  Section 5 (b) says: 

Single-Family Domestic Service. In areas where SCE does not maintain
three-phase secondary mains, only single-phase service will be supplied
unless the applicant's load includes at least one motor rated in excess of
10 hp. 


So, it looks like if you want to fool with three phase power at home, you
just need to get (buy, rent, borrow) yourself to the surplus yard and get a
15 HP three phase motor and associated control electronics (i.e. a suitable
overcurrent protector).  The rules don't say you have to run the motor all
the time, just that you might need it sometimes.  In fact, once the service
is installed, you could sell the motor.  They do have a requirement of a
minimum of 3kVA load connected (again, you could disconnect it later) and
that the load be balanced across phases. 

It doesn't say how it would be supplied... probably 120/208Y, or maybe 240
delta with grounded centertap on one phase.  You might also need to provide
them with a place to put a transformer.