3-phase electricty - what does it mean?

Hoopie

We are looking at a normal semi-det house that has a 3-phase electric connection (it was used for an ironing business).

Not having encountered this before, we have several questions:

• Does it affect the EMF in/around the house?
• Would it effect things like council tax?
• Does it mean we would need to buy special appliances?
• Should we get it changed back to single phase?

I know I should contact the electricty distribution co. but they have just been voted the worst for customer service so I don't have much faith in them!
Many thanks

AdrianW2

May I suggest Google?

I'd expect most of the house electrics will be normal domestic fittings driven from a single phase.

Treat the 3-phase stuff with a lot of respect, you really don't want to be on the receiving and of a phase to phase shock. No point in getting the connection taken out, but it might be safer to get the outlets disconnected if you're never going to use them. We kept one outlet 'cos they're useful for big welders and the like.

moonrakerz

Electricity is distributed on a three phase supply.
The "normal" single phase supply for domestic use is the voltage between one phase and neutral, this 240 Volts.

Larger "commercial" equipments use three phase supplies, this is the voltage between two phases, around 400 Volts.

Your house should be wired exactly the same as every other house, in that everything runs off a single phase at 240 V. You will probably find that there are special power sockets supplying the 3 phase for the ironing equipment.
If you don't have any of this equipment then you won't need to use these sockets.

However ! - it may be worth you checking with your supplier in case you are charged extra for the "convenience" of having the three phase available.

Cknocker

The chances are your electricity supplier will be charging you more for your power as the distibitur will charge more for a 3 phase connection, as you effectively have 3 connections. If thats the case get it reduced to a single phase suply, all they will do is remove two of the service fuses, but your distribution board will need rewiring.