One phase from three phase

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by captlloyd

Don't know about Europe but in the US you can go to about any hardware/Home Depot and buy an inexpensive voltage tester. I would suspect they are available in Europe also. How is that for some information that you can really use.

I have two good quality multimeters Which I intend to deploy for this task

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by med

I think this is the usual European plug:-

That's it; thanks.

Unfortunately, there are several sizes of these and all in the same color, and the one I bought doesn't fit

So I am doing as DeepFrz suggested and am running my generator. I need some heat (not to mention hot water) so would like to have constant power, and don't want to run my generator constantly.

But now I have to wait until Monday to buy the proper plug.

I am trying not to bother the port personnel because I am staying here for free, and they are not located on site. They have to drive some distance from their base.

[Zil]

You don't really know what you are doing or you would not ask. So, it seems you want some one to tell you it is OK to do something dangerous. My limited experience with usa 3 phase is that all the legs can have different voltages and they change. Any location that used one phase used a complicated transformer to tap into the 3 phase. Get a local expert.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Zil

You don't really know what you are doing or you would not ask. So, it seems you want some one to tell you it is OK to do something dangerous. My limited experience with usa 3 phase is that all the legs can have different voltages and they change. Any location that used one phase used a complicated transformer to tap into the 3 phase. Get a local expert.

Ask enough, and intelligently enough, and listen, and soon you will know what you are doing

I certainly know more than what is written above -- no transformer is needed to get one phase out of three.

[Dockhead]

The rest of the story is that the three-phase plug I bought didn't fit, and I ran into the port director at a social occasion. This one had his guys bring out a mobile electrical cabinet which plugs into one of the 72 amp marine sockets, and which gives a variety of sockets for different purposes. I plugged into one of the regular Shuco sockets and Bob's my uncle -- I now have shore power at last.

I had the port guys open the back of the cabinet to see out of curiosity how it's wired up. Indeed, exactly as was advised here -- three Shuco one-phase outlets are just as I had proposed in the original post -- phase to hot, neutral to neutral, ground to ground, and each Shuco socket took phase from a different phase line.

It's not rocket science but, of course, you cannot afford the slightest risk of a mistake.

[jeepbluetj]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Ask enough, and intelligently enough, and listen, and soon you will know what you are doing

I certainly know more than what is written above -- no transformer is needed to get one phase out of three.

And the voltages on each leg don't "change" -- unless somebody hits a power pole or something. 1ph from 3ph is exactly as been described.

3ph from 1ph, OTOH, is a quite complex thing.

Good on ya Dockhead for finding a simple solution.

[med]

Originally Posted by jeepbluetj

And the voltages on each leg don't "change" -- unless somebody hits a power pole or something. 1ph from 3ph is exactly as been described.

3ph from 1ph, OTOH, is a quite complex thing.

Good on ya Dockhead for finding a simple solution.

There are 3 phase sockets in the USA which have no neutral - just 3 live phases and an earth (which cannot be used as a neutral return of course).

You cannot just hook up to one of those and get a single phase out + neutral out.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by med

There are 3 phase sockets in the USA which have no neutral - just 3 live phases and an earth (which cannot be used as a neutral return of course).

You cannot just hook up to one of those and get a single phase out + neutral out.

I've never seen that. But anyway, we're not in the USA here at 60N latitude. The three phase power has three phase wires, one neutral, and one ground.

The port's adapter cabinet is wired exactly as I suggested in the original post, and was confirmed by different people in this thread with greater expertise than mine.

As a result of which I am happily enjoying shore power -- 230 volts, 18 amps, clean power, and letting my generator rest finally.

[med]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I've never seen that. But anyway, we're not in the USA here at 60N latitude. The three phase power has three phase wires, one neutral, and one ground.

The port's adapter cabinet is wired exactly as I suggested in the original post, and was confirmed by different people in this thread with greater expertise than mine.

As a result of which I am happily enjoying shore power -- 230 volts, 18 amps, clean power, and letting my generator rest finally.

This is what the socket (3P+E) looks like:-

http://www.amazon.com/IEC309-2-Indus.../dp/B00D0XKCWK

I believe this is fairly common in US marinas (never checked though).

In Europe I think we always have 3P+N+E

[IdoraKeeper]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I've never seen that. But anyway, we're not in the USA here at 60N latitude. The three phase power has three phase wires, one neutral, and one ground.

The port's adapter cabinet is wired exactly as I suggested in the original post, and was confirmed by different people in this thread with greater expertise than mine.

As a result of which I am happily enjoying shore power -- 230 volts, 18 amps, clean power, and letting my generator rest finally.

Well and good. lots of times if you go slow and think about it the problem
can be solved. You were beginning to worry me on this one. Good job.

[jeepbluetj]

Originally Posted by med

There are 3 phase sockets in the USA which have no neutral - just 3 live phases and an earth (which cannot be used as a neutral return of course).

You cannot just hook up to one of those and get a single phase out + neutral out.

Yup, of course you can't (safely) get 1ph from 3ph if you don't have a neutral.

I've never seen 3ph in a marina in the states, but I'm no expert. You would of course find them in boatyards where welders and large motorized equipment is used. Marinas (that I have seen) usually have 15/20A 120v. 30A 120v, or 50A 220v.

[Zil]

I'm glad things worked out for you.