RE: Household NEUTRAL is not really a return path

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Jim Lux <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

At 07:32 PM 9/14/2005, you wrote:
> Original poster: "Mccauley, Daniel H" <daniel.h.mccauley@xxxxxxxx>
>
>
> I somehow doubt that three phase is part of common household AC as the
> original poster
> stated.


It is in Europe.  Power distribution is very different in Europe than 
in the US, for historical and practical reasons.  Many more houses on 
one transformer (several dozen as opposed to 4-8 in the US), and 240V 
Wye (aka Star) is common (416V between phases).  Any given house 
might have one,two, or all three phases, particularly if you're in a 
flatblock or row house configuration.

Much of the electrical infrastructure was rebuilt after WWII because 
of the extensive damage, particularly in large cities. At the same 
time, they went away from oil insulation and started using a lot of 
gas insulated switchgear (SF6), because of the fire problem.  The 
density of electrified households is also higher with big gaps 
between cities.  There was no european equivalent of the REA (Rural 
Electrification Administration) before the war.



> Dan
>
>
> Maybe he's talking about thee phase?
>
> Adam