[time-nuts] 60 Hz measurement party

[Hal Murray]

magnus at rubidium.dyndns.org said:
> It could be interesting just to monitor the phase of the L1, L2 and L3
> phases of the house. :) 

Is 3 phase standard in (some/most/?) European homes?

In the US, houses and small businesses get 120/240.  That's 3 wires, 240 
single phase, center tap, with the center called neutral and connected to 
earth/ground.  High power things like stoves and dryers run on 240.  Most 
things like lights and TVs run on 120.  As long as the 120 load is balanced 
there is no current in the neutral so the losses in the line from pole to 
house are based on a 240 load rather than 120.  (1/4, for the same size wire)

You have to use a lot more power than a typical house to get 3 phase.  Here 
are PG&E's rules:
  http://www.pge.com/tariffs/tm2/pdf/ELEC_RULES_2.pdf


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