What is the main difference between single and three phase electrical installations?
Single Phase | Three Phase |
|---|---|
Generally have one main switch | Have three switches. |
Mainly used in homes and residential areas where a lighter power demand is required. | Used within industrial buildings, businesses, data centres, telecommunication towers and power grids where more power is required. |
One neutral wire and one power wire that carries the electrical load. | Three power wires carry the electrical load. |
Why should I care about the difference between single and three phase electrical installations?
As you can see from the table above, deciding if you will work on a single or three-phase electrical installation is essential. If you only study single phase, you are limited to residential work and cannot do any electrical work within business premises. It's also important to mention that many new modern home installations are being installed with three-phase, so not studying this can limit your work in residential areas.
In later sections of this guide, we will explain what diplomas you need to study that will align with single and three-phase electrical installations. We also cover the Department of Labour registration process, which requires selecting the phase you are registering for.