Anyone got 3 phase at home?
Discussion
i've got a rotary phase converter, runs a milling machine/lathe and car ramp. with an EV car on order, it might make sense to convert. Has anyone done so? I'd get circa £1k for the phase converter i've got to offset costs. means I could install a 22kw car charger and fill it on a some very low off peak time slots for not much money(5p per kwh)
My parents have 3 phase at home. They’ve lived there since the 50s (at least my Dad has) and I think the 3 phase is just a weird anomaly. It is a bit scary that they have 440V in the airing cupboard, but that’s not what you’re asking! Their house is a mix of two old houses and a farm building type thing.
They have a separate meter for each phase and they are with Octopus Energy so no dramas on that front.
I can’t actually remember exactly how it works, but the three meters are in one shed; the three phases then split with two going to what was the main house and then the third going to what was a cottage, with its associated sheds.
Their usage is not balanced, which I always thought DNOs got annoyed about. But as it’s been like that since just after the war and the overall loads are tiny so it probably doesn’t matter.
They have a separate meter for each phase and they are with Octopus Energy so no dramas on that front.
I can’t actually remember exactly how it works, but the three meters are in one shed; the three phases then split with two going to what was the main house and then the third going to what was a cottage, with its associated sheds.
Their usage is not balanced, which I always thought DNOs got annoyed about. But as it’s been like that since just after the war and the overall loads are tiny so it probably doesn’t matter.
Out of interest, how do you go about getting it quoted/installed?
We are just about to get first EV and may need to beef up the supply to handle that. Thinking that it might well be worth getting 3p for the workshop and to handle the charging of multiple EVs.
There’s a relatively large transformer just across the lane so there’s a chance they might be able to come off that at lowish cost?
We are just about to get first EV and may need to beef up the supply to handle that. Thinking that it might well be worth getting 3p for the workshop and to handle the charging of multiple EVs.
There’s a relatively large transformer just across the lane so there’s a chance they might be able to come off that at lowish cost?
LooneyTunes said:
Out of interest, how do you go about getting it quoted/installed?
We are just about to get first EV and may need to beef up the supply to handle that. Thinking that it might well be worth getting 3p for the workshop and to handle the charging of multiple EVs.
There’s a relatively large transformer just across the lane so there’s a chance they might be able to come off that at lowish cost?
contact your DNO for a quote.We are just about to get first EV and may need to beef up the supply to handle that. Thinking that it might well be worth getting 3p for the workshop and to handle the charging of multiple EVs.
There’s a relatively large transformer just across the lane so there’s a chance they might be able to come off that at lowish cost?
If you're here (London/SE) the DNO views any enquiry as an opportunity to gouge you for as much as possible, to the point there's a booming black market in service relocations, but other area DNOs have a more scrupulous approach.
My friend has it, 1950s house in Swansea.
Has worked well for him as he's got an ASHP and wants an EV soon enough. Much more margin than you get on a single phase.
He's on an eco7 tariff, but yes would need a separate meter on each phase which I don't think the suppliers were in any rush to supply for him.
Has worked well for him as he's got an ASHP and wants an EV soon enough. Much more margin than you get on a single phase.
He's on an eco7 tariff, but yes would need a separate meter on each phase which I don't think the suppliers were in any rush to supply for him.
jason61c said:
i''ve got overhead power so it won't be as drastic as most! looking at western powers site, seems to be £1700ish.
Have you got 3 phase at home? have you still got options of suppliers and rates?
I just enquired about 3ph on a job I'm working on at the moment. £1500 is the minimum UK Power charge for a connection. The local transformer was up to capacity, so they couldn't do it with out a transformer upgrade, which would be at my cost. I didn't even bother getting a quote for this.Have you got 3 phase at home? have you still got options of suppliers and rates?
We didn't need 3ph, just more power. They are going to put a new1ph supply at the bottom of a pole within the grounds. We then has to run 40m of SWA to the property. They have to run a cable down the pole, along 7m of trench I have dug, into a kiosk I paid for and erected. The cost is just over £1700.
I think all new supplies have to be underground. To be fair, they have been super easy to deal with. I filled in the online form on a Friday, site visit was on Wednesday and I had a quote on the Thursday. They are coming in Aug to connect up. Getting a quotation is free, but I suppose someone is paying that.
Teddy Lop said:
contact your DNO for a quote.
If you're here (London/SE) the DNO views any enquiry as an opportunity to gouge you for as much as possible, to the point there's a booming black market in service relocations, but other area DNOs have a more scrupulous approach.
Ah, ok so it’s that route rather than via the supplier. I’ll give them a call and see where we get to. If you're here (London/SE) the DNO views any enquiry as an opportunity to gouge you for as much as possible, to the point there's a booming black market in service relocations, but other area DNOs have a more scrupulous approach.
I have three-phase power at home.
Handy for big woodworking machinery, and should future-proof us for EVs. Our current EV (Outlander PHEV) uses a single phase for charging. You can also put in 3x the normal solar panels (with caveats of course!).
For most domestic situations, it's enormous overkill, as a 100A supply is big enough for most people, even with EVs and heat-pumps.
Watch out for the metering though. There are no smart meters yet approved for three-phase supplies so you won't get your 5p overnight rate. There are various theoretical hacks such as three individual meters (as one response above mentions) but I've been talking to providers for over a year with nothing yet to show for it. Apparently SSE has started doing some testing in May (finally!) but we could be years away. They were expected to exist in 2018.
Handy for big woodworking machinery, and should future-proof us for EVs. Our current EV (Outlander PHEV) uses a single phase for charging. You can also put in 3x the normal solar panels (with caveats of course!).
For most domestic situations, it's enormous overkill, as a 100A supply is big enough for most people, even with EVs and heat-pumps.
Watch out for the metering though. There are no smart meters yet approved for three-phase supplies so you won't get your 5p overnight rate. There are various theoretical hacks such as three individual meters (as one response above mentions) but I've been talking to providers for over a year with nothing yet to show for it. Apparently SSE has started doing some testing in May (finally!) but we could be years away. They were expected to exist in 2018.
biggiles said:
I have three-phase power at home.
Handy for big woodworking machinery, and should future-proof us for EVs. Our current EV (Outlander PHEV) uses a single phase for charging. You can also put in 3x the normal solar panels (with caveats of course!).
For most domestic situations, it's enormous overkill, as a 100A supply is big enough for most people, even with EVs and heat-pumps.
Watch out for the metering though. There are no smart meters yet approved for three-phase supplies so you won't get your 5p overnight rate. There are various theoretical hacks such as three individual meters (as one response above mentions) but I've been talking to providers for over a year with nothing yet to show for it. Apparently SSE has started doing some testing in May (finally!) but we could be years away. They were expected to exist in 2018.
I'm not sure if you can get 3ph domestic tariffs which have other advantages... One client of mine has 3 single phase meters each with its own account...;)Handy for big woodworking machinery, and should future-proof us for EVs. Our current EV (Outlander PHEV) uses a single phase for charging. You can also put in 3x the normal solar panels (with caveats of course!).
For most domestic situations, it's enormous overkill, as a 100A supply is big enough for most people, even with EVs and heat-pumps.
Watch out for the metering though. There are no smart meters yet approved for three-phase supplies so you won't get your 5p overnight rate. There are various theoretical hacks such as three individual meters (as one response above mentions) but I've been talking to providers for over a year with nothing yet to show for it. Apparently SSE has started doing some testing in May (finally!) but we could be years away. They were expected to exist in 2018.
I have, as the house we bought (London) had previously been kitted out with power for a lift, as it was to be for a disabled owner.
I am rather hoping that this means i can have a fast charger for an electric car...but I assume that actually as said above, 3 phase is not necessary for this?
I know little about electricity power supplies. As me about paint colours though, and I'm your man.
I am rather hoping that this means i can have a fast charger for an electric car...but I assume that actually as said above, 3 phase is not necessary for this?
I know little about electricity power supplies. As me about paint colours though, and I'm your man.
I had it put in a few years ago when I bought an EV. It made fast charging etc possible, and meant my house (which has been extended over the years) had the infrastructure expected given its size.
It’s worth looking into what you (or your contractor) can do yourself as opposed to the supplier. I found someone who did all of the digging up to my boundary and all of the internal work. This left the supplier to deal with the small dig and repair to the road, and (obviously) the jointing, This reduced the total cost substantially.
It’s worth looking into what you (or your contractor) can do yourself as opposed to the supplier. I found someone who did all of the digging up to my boundary and all of the internal work. This left the supplier to deal with the small dig and repair to the road, and (obviously) the jointing, This reduced the total cost substantially.
jason61c said:
I've rang my DNO, i'll keep this thread upto date. I've overhead supply lines, so I'm also thinking, the sooner I get it 'in' the better.
Please do as it's a very timely thread for me. What is DNO, district network operator or something?I'm looking to buy a place and work from home, much of my equipment is 3 phase and the place we are looking at is remote, but does have an overhead supply.
I'm guessing the cost will be somewhat dependent on the distance from your home to the nearest substation or whatever it's called?
Why not fit a digital convertor btw? Is a rotary one of those noisy things which runs like an electric motor?
Sorry for all the questions!
Harry Flashman said:
I have, as the house we bought (London) had previously been kitted out with power for a lift, as it was to be for a disabled owner.
I am rather hoping that this means i can have a fast charger for an electric car...but I assume that actually as said above, 3 phase is not necessary for this?
I know little about electricity power supplies. As me about paint colours though, and I'm your man.
Depends on how fast you want. Normal 1-phase chargers max out at 7.2kW. Plenty fast enough for most people to charge overnight. The charger I have can do 21kW if you have 3 phase (I don't) and your car supports 3-phase AC charging (my PHEV only supports 3.6kW and single phase so I've not looked into 3-phase costs).I am rather hoping that this means i can have a fast charger for an electric car...but I assume that actually as said above, 3 phase is not necessary for this?
I know little about electricity power supplies. As me about paint colours though, and I'm your man.
I think we do, I vaguely remember our electrician mentioning it but I don't know for sure. We do have a smart meter but it doesn't seem to function properly - the consumer panel never displays our electricity use and it doesn't seem to communicate with our energy provider so we still have to submit readings - so I wonder if this could be the reason. This is how it looks:
QuickQuack said:
I think we do, I vaguely remember our electrician mentioning it but I don't know for sure. We do have a smart meter but it doesn't seem to function properly - the consumer panel never displays our electricity use and it doesn't seem to communicate with our energy provider so we still have to submit readings - so I wonder if this could be the reason. This is how it looks:
It looks like you have 2 phase to me. SWF5 fused isolator looks a little rough.Evoluzione said:
Please do as it's a very timely thread for me. What is DNO, district network operator or something?
I'm looking to buy a place and work from home, much of my equipment is 3 phase and the place we are looking at is remote, but does have an overhead supply.
I'm guessing the cost will be somewhat dependent on the distance from your home to the nearest substation or whatever it's called?
Why not fit a digital convertor btw? Is a rotary one of those noisy things which runs like an electric motor?
Sorry for all the questions!
Digital's are rubbish on varying loads or CNC where there's control stuff. With the rotary, i've got a 3phase distro in my garage and can run all at once!I'm looking to buy a place and work from home, much of my equipment is 3 phase and the place we are looking at is remote, but does have an overhead supply.
I'm guessing the cost will be somewhat dependent on the distance from your home to the nearest substation or whatever it's called?
Why not fit a digital convertor btw? Is a rotary one of those noisy things which runs like an electric motor?
Sorry for all the questions!
Also it means I can fit a 22kw 3 phase EV car charger.
Western Power are our DNO, interested to hear how it works out cost wise.......
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