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Concept
Split-phase electric power
Summary
A split-phase or single-phase three-wire system is a type of single-phase electric power distribution. It is the alternating current (AC) equivalent of the original Edison Machine Works three-wire direct-current system. Its primary advantage is that, for a given capacity of a distribution system, it saves conductor material over a single-ended single-phase system, while only requiring a single phase on the supply side of the distribution transformer.
This system is common in North America for residential and light commercial applications. Two 120 V AC lines are supplied to the premises that are out of phase by 180 degrees with each other (when both measured with respect to the neutral), along with a common neutral. The neutral conductor is connected to ground at the transformer center tap. Circuits for lighting and small appliance power outlets (i.e., NEMA 1 and NEMA 5) use 120 V circuits—these are connected between one of the lines and neutral using a single-pole circuit breaker. High-demand applications, such as ovens, are often powered using 240 V AC circuits—these are connected between the two 120 V AC lines. These 240 V loads are either hard-wired or use NEMA 10 or NEMA 14 outlets which are deliberately incompatible with the 120 V outlets.
Other applications of a split-phase power system are used to reduce the electric shock hazard or to reduce electromagnetic noise.
A transformer supplying a three-wire distribution system has a single-phase input (primary) winding. The output (secondary) winding is center-tapped and the center tap connected to a grounded neutral. As shown in Fig. 1, either end to center has half the voltage of end-to-end. Fig. 2 illustrates the phasor diagram of the output voltages for a split-phase transformer. Since the two phasors do not define a unique direction of rotation for a revolving magnetic field, a split single-phase is not a two-phase system.
In the United States and Canada, the practice originated with the DC distribution system developed by Thomas Edison.
Official source
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