Re: Single vs Two Phase (was - Spark gap erosion resistance)

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

Original poster: "Ed Phillips by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <evp-at-pacbell-dot-net>

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "Peter Lawrence by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Peter.Lawrence-at-Sun-dot-com>
> 
> Terry,
>       the reason for the controversy is that the meaning of the word
> "phase" has very specific definition in signal processing and Fourier
> analysis in which the term phase directly relates to the signal/voltage/
> current/etc of whatever is being studied, which is different from the
assigned
> meaning of the word as used by builders of alternators and distributors of
> electrical energy in which case the term phase is only indirectly related
> to the signal/voltage/current/etc being studied because the term applies
> to the generating apparatus rather than the signal.
> 
> The former definition is better for designing AC electrical circuits, the
> latter is better for talking to PG&E. Each has its use, but they are
different,
> and will probably continue to create confusion/disagreement on this list
> for ever. We Tesla Coilers need to understand both meanings of the term
> phase, for example the difference between AC Watts and Volt*Amps (power
> factor) comes from understanding the signal processing/Fourier analysis/
> Electrical Engineering meaning of the term "phase".
> 
> Peter Lawrence, I-promise-not-to-fall-into-this-topic-again-vale, CA.
> 
> >
> >Original poster: "Terry Fritz" <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>
> >
> >Hi Michael,
> >
> >The reason for the "controversy" is that the true electrical engineering
> >definition says that the number of phases is related to the armature
> >construction of an alternator.  One winding gives single phase AC.  It
> >"does not matter if you take the center as ground", it is still single
> phase.

	The concepts of phase and phasers (not phasors) has been the same in
every field I've ever worked in.  I'm not familiar with phase as defined
by the armature (and pole) construction; I would rather say the armature
construction determines the phase(s) of the output.  Some slow-speed
turbine generators used in low-head hydropower systems have many, many
poles but still generate 3-phase power.

Ed