As a guy who used to build 3 phase panels for machinery with 20 to 50 hp motors with frequency drives and soft starts 45 years ago.... I'd love to see where the technology has progressed to and how it's changed...
I answered that I would not read it because like you I am an EE who has worked with industrial 3ph power for 45+ years but I think it would be good for you to cover it. If for no other reason, I think for safety reasons, anyone who might be exposed to 3ph systems should understand what they are dealing with.
This will predominantly be about how 3 phase power is being used in campgrounds to feed split-phase pedestals. I’ll also touch on Triplen Currents and how they affect neutral conductor size, so that may be of interest to you…
Great idea Mike. Didn’t give it much thought but there certainly are lots of non- linnear loads in campers these days. (I think my new washing machine even has a VFD in it!) 3ph power is going to raise some new but manageable situations but addressing the harmonic issues is going to be a whole new can of worms. Yes, I would be very interested reading your discussions.
More information is always better. I learn/remember something new every day. Even if it only allows you to recognize when someone else is in error. It might save you some grief by distancing yourself from them. I dealt with 3ph motor control for 40 yrs. Listening to someone else's take can push you either way.
RVer’s should probably learn to understand the difference in 3 phase and split phase since split phase is what we get at the campgrounds when we plug in to 50 amp service.
I think the question is do we as RV’rs need to know what’s behind the panel. I think we only need to know if it makes a difference in how we check the voltage present in the outlet. And I’m an EE who was a plant engineer in a plant that had gobs of high amp and voltage 3 phase.
I find that most readers are even confused by single/split-phase power. But since 3p is ending up in many new campgrounds, they should learn the basics of how to measure it in a pedestal receptacle.
Not sure what it will teach to the end user plugging in his RV? No one should be opening up a pedestal cover to trouble shoot except for a qualified campground maintenance workers or a qualified electrician hired by the campground using proper PPE.
Only what consumers should be aware of. Of course Wye service can be 208-volt nominal phase to phase, while 120-volts nominal neutral to any phase.
But campground maintenance staff are my main target since once I saw a campground hookup new 30-amp pedestals to the wild leg in a high-leg Delta panel. That sent 208-volt single pole power to half a dozen 30-amp pedestals, and fried several RV electrical systems until someone put a meter on it.
As a EE, I study power distribution in college and used it some early on when I graduated. I have not used it in years, so it would be more as a refresher, so good to know
Just started RV’ing full time and have been exposed to multiple electrical pedestals of various ages and conditions. Any information you can provide I will appreciate and hopefully understand.
Looking to be safe when planning our garage build, adding an induction stove top and plugging our camper in at campsites. Always looking to learn what I don't know.
As an electronics engineer - not an electrical engineer - I never needed to understand 3-phase power; but I have always been curious about how it works and it's advantages/disadvantages.
As a guy who used to build 3 phase panels for machinery with 20 to 50 hp motors with frequency drives and soft starts 45 years ago.... I'd love to see where the technology has progressed to and how it's changed...
Bring it on.....
I answered that I would not read it because like you I am an EE who has worked with industrial 3ph power for 45+ years but I think it would be good for you to cover it. If for no other reason, I think for safety reasons, anyone who might be exposed to 3ph systems should understand what they are dealing with.
This will predominantly be about how 3 phase power is being used in campgrounds to feed split-phase pedestals. I’ll also touch on Triplen Currents and how they affect neutral conductor size, so that may be of interest to you…
I think it's important to understand as campground electrical progress
And campgrounds are thinking about how to include Level-2 EV charging at campsites as well.
Great idea Mike. Didn’t give it much thought but there certainly are lots of non- linnear loads in campers these days. (I think my new washing machine even has a VFD in it!) 3ph power is going to raise some new but manageable situations but addressing the harmonic issues is going to be a whole new can of worms. Yes, I would be very interested reading your discussions.
How about a modest preview
Then ask the question again.
More information is always better. I learn/remember something new every day. Even if it only allows you to recognize when someone else is in error. It might save you some grief by distancing yourself from them. I dealt with 3ph motor control for 40 yrs. Listening to someone else's take can push you either way.
RVer’s should probably learn to understand the difference in 3 phase and split phase since split phase is what we get at the campgrounds when we plug in to 50 amp service.
I think the question is do we as RV’rs need to know what’s behind the panel. I think we only need to know if it makes a difference in how we check the voltage present in the outlet. And I’m an EE who was a plant engineer in a plant that had gobs of high amp and voltage 3 phase.
I find that most readers are even confused by single/split-phase power. But since 3p is ending up in many new campgrounds, they should learn the basics of how to measure it in a pedestal receptacle.
Not sure what it will teach to the end user plugging in his RV? No one should be opening up a pedestal cover to trouble shoot except for a qualified campground maintenance workers or a qualified electrician hired by the campground using proper PPE.
Only what consumers should be aware of. Of course Wye service can be 208-volt nominal phase to phase, while 120-volts nominal neutral to any phase.
But campground maintenance staff are my main target since once I saw a campground hookup new 30-amp pedestals to the wild leg in a high-leg Delta panel. That sent 208-volt single pole power to half a dozen 30-amp pedestals, and fried several RV electrical systems until someone put a meter on it.
As a EE, I study power distribution in college and used it some early on when I graduated. I have not used it in years, so it would be more as a refresher, so good to know
Just started RV’ing full time and have been exposed to multiple electrical pedestals of various ages and conditions. Any information you can provide I will appreciate and hopefully understand.
Looking to be safe when planning our garage build, adding an induction stove top and plugging our camper in at campsites. Always looking to learn what I don't know.
In the theatre venue (where I worked for 42 years) 3 phase was always used, mostly split up, but many motors used 3 phase.
yes, please
Yes, I wired several small machine shops using both rotary and static phase converters.
As an electronics engineer - not an electrical engineer - I never needed to understand 3-phase power; but I have always been curious about how it works and it's advantages/disadvantages.