3 Phase or 1 Phase Supply?

[ajnabi]

Hi,

Trying to work out if I have a 3 phase supply.
Is it possible to work out from looking at the main supply cable and the main fuse?
Pics below:

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• ajnabi
• 31 Jul 2014
• 1

Untitled

• ajnabi
• 31 Jul 2014
• 1

I have sent an email to my electricity supplier as well, and waiting for reply.

TIA.
ajnabi

 

[westie101]

Single phase supply from, probably, a 2core .0225 sqin PILSTA cable
Probably fused at 60 amp, but could be uprated by the DNO to 100A by changing the cut-


(BTW your supplier probably won't know and will refer it to the DNO)

 

[ajnabi]

Thanks for the quick reply westie... I presumed as much.
Sorry got my words mixed up, the email was sent to the DNO not the supplier(npower).
Also asked for a quote to install the 3 Phase, let see what happens.

Thanks again
ajnabi

 

[Taylortwocities]

Also asked for a quote to install the 3 Phase, let see what happens.

I do hope that you have LOTS of money to spend on this. Please be sitting down when you get the quote.

Why do you need a 3-phase supply?

 

[ajnabi]

Yeh, I've read in some threads 3.5 to 4K.
3 phase for tig welding machines, maybe a lathe.
Top end single phase machines are very expensive, where as used 3 phase machines are much cheaper.
So six and 2 three's it seems.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Trying to work out if I have a 3 phase supply.

You have 1 fuse and 2 tails. What makes you think it might be 3-phase?

Yeh, I've read in some threads 3.5 to 4K.

possibly
To say nothing of the higher standing charge.

^

You could get a single to 3-phase converter for a fraction of that £3.5 - 4K.

 

[JohnW2]

Yeh, I've read in some threads 3.5 to 4K.

To say nothing of the higher standing charge.

I can't speak for others, but my supplier (E.ON) does not appear to distinguish between 1-phase and 3-phase in its domestic tariffs. IIRC, I pay around £60 p.a. standing charge for my 3-phase supply.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

OK - I thought it was standard practice to have a higher standing charge.

 

[JohnW2]

OK - I thought it was standard practice to have a higher standing charge.

It would be quite difficult for them to justify. Apart from the trivial fact that a 3-phase meter is presumably marginally more expensive, and that they would need a metre or two more of tails to install it, I can think of nothing which, from the supplier's viewpoint, makes a 3-phase supply any more expensive to administer.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Yes, of course.

No company has ever engaged in unjustifiable, even rapacious, pricing just because they can.

 

[JohnW2]

Yes, of course. No company has ever engaged in unjustifiable, even rapacious, pricing just because they can.

I imagine it's less easy when there's a highly competitive market and a regulator looking over one's shoulder.

Kind Regards, John

 

[westie101]

High power welding kit will require a network design to ensure the use of the welders does not interfere with the supply to other customers. This could push the bill up if other work is required.

Don't be tempted not to declare the welders as if you connect them and complaints arise the DNO has the power to require you to not use them or disconnect your supply if you fail to comply

 

[AndyPRK]

Well the regulator is only slowly getting a grip on that industry or trying to.

 

[JohnW2]

Well the regulator is only slowly getting a grip on that industry or trying to.

Agreed, but the 'highly competitive market' issue is probably much more powerful.

In fact, having just checked, my 'standing charge' fairly recently dropped considerably, I suspect in response to 'market forces'. There used to be 'zero standing charge', but a surcharge of about 15p per unit on the first 900 units per year - i.e. an effective standing charge (assuming one uses at least 900 units/year) of about £135 per year. I'm now being charged an explicit Standing Charge of 16.422p (including VAT) per day - i.e. just £59.94 per year. I wonder how that compares with what others are paying?

Kind Regards, John

 

[AndyPRK]

At the end of last year, I went onto npower fixed deal. It has no standing charge. It's replacement has the standing charge back!