they might be able to do it by simply adding the extra meters in a bigger meter box and keep most of the single phase breakers etc as you'll still need that stuff anyway for the single phase circuits. there is no reason to replace that gear.
when the ran the 3 phase to the shed they pulled our existing cable out dragging a trace wire as the did it taped the extra cables onto the the existing one and dragged it back into place.
sadly it probably would have only cost you 1500 to 2000 bucks more at the time maybe less

trainzkid88 wrote:

they might be able to do it by simply adding the extra meters in a bigger meter box and keep most of the single phase breakers etc as you'll still need that stuff anyway for the single phase circuits. there is no reason to replace that gear.
when the ran the 3 phase to the shed they pulled our existing cable out dragging a trace wire as the did it taped the extra cables onto the the existing one and dragged it back into place.
sadly it probably would have only cost you 1500 to 2000 bucks more at the time maybe less
 

What about the monthly service delivery chare and rate of 3PH vs. Single?

ETD66SS wrote:

rate of 3PH vs. Single?

For my three phase it is based on the total power consumption. So if you use 1000kw per phase it adds up to the same as if you use 3000kw on single phase. The power bill has each phase listed separately but they are then totaled and the  price is the same. Price only changes if you take advantage of peak, off peak and shoulder rates. Probably different in the US though.

OK, so I have a work order in with the power company, I guess I'll see where this goes.

However, looking at the conductor that was pulled through my conduit to supply the secondary transformer:



I've been told that is a #2MV90 conductor, which is .76" (19mm) in diameter with casing. 3 of those in my conduit would look like:

I don't know what amperage each leg of the 3PH would have. However I am imagining the single phase conductor would carry more amps? So maybe the 3PH conductors could be 3/0 wire carrying 150A each for 650ft. That could be $12/ft X 650ft X 3 =$23,400 just for the conductors.  Ouch...


 

so they are approx 80mm sq cable (cable size is measured in sq mm for electrical yes some place still use AWG) so that shouldnt be a problem to suppliment with the extra 2 for three phases in the conduit you have. no it wont cost 23grand for the cable at all they are only supplying 2 additional cables. your 3 phase voltage is 480 thats is over the three cables each one is only about a third of that voltage. also there is no cost for conduit as you went oversized in the first place(provided there is sufficient air space for cooling it wont be a problem) so thats a cost saving.

you'll probably get around 80amps per phase over that cable run. the max draw will be limited by the main breaker/rcd unit. the supply my parents have is 100 amps at the pole fuses the breaker allows 32 amps per phase. your sparky will size them appropriately.

as for the tarrif your charged ask if they do a hobbyist rate. how they calculate mum and dad's is just like PHIL said each meter is read and then totaled up you pay for the combined total. example if you used 30kw on meter 1 10 on meter 2 and 25 on meter3 you would pay for 65kw/h of electric power plus any daily supply charge and metering fees if they charge those fees. your rate is the same for hobby customers as if you had single phase.

it pays to ask these questions of the utility company. they might even have a faq on their website. they would get asked this stuf frequently

trainzkid88 wrote:

it pays to ask these questions of the utility company. they might even have a faq on their website. they would get asked this stuf frequently
 

Yes, hopefully I hear back form them soon. Their website has none of this info...

And, I don't think I explained things well. The voltage in the conductors running from the road in the conduit would not 480V split between 3 cables, it would still be 7200V in each conductor supplying the pad mount transformer. It's only 480 after it comes out of my pad mounted transformer to the meter and then from the meter to all the service equipment.

Your dealing with high voltage and I don't think each phase conductor can cohabit the same conduit.At least any high voltage (3000 and above) cabling at work has a conduit for each phase.Obviously US rules are different.
650 feet is only 200 meters. I am surprised they put 7200V underground to a second transformer instead of dropping the voltage at the pole and putting in cables big enough to handle the required current without too much voltage drop.

tk88 I was quoted $10,000 per100m for an underground high voltage cable by Essential Energy. Total cable run was 650m . Made going off-grid a much cheaper option..Also with 7200V pushing it ETD's cable only needed to be 25mm to get 100A.

shouldnt be they rarely run that sort of voltage onto a customers premises unless its a shopping centre or something like that and in that case there wouldnt be a pole mounted transformer. your feed wont be 7.5 kv it comes off that transformer it will be 240v.

we had a power feed run off a 11kv swer line at my parents rural property the cable run was 200m of a pair of 80mm2 cables trenched in, meterbox on property pole, subboard on the shed, breakers labour etc and it was under 10 grand. mind you that was a few yrs ago so prices have increased.

ask questions and get a written itemised quote!

trainzkid88 wrote:

trainzkid88 post=246471 userid=11838

shouldnt be they rarely run that sort of voltage onto a customers premises unless its a shopping centre or something like that and in that case there wouldnt be a pole mounted transformer. your feed wont be 7.5 kv it comes off that transformer it will be 240v.

we had a power feed run off a 11kv swer line at my parents rural property the cable run was 200m of a pair of 80mm2 cables trenched in, meterbox on property pole, subboard on the shed, breakers labour etc and it was under 10 grand. mind you that was a few yrs ago so prices have increased.

ask questions and get a written itemised quote!
 

I think here in the US, the 3 legs on the "normal street" power poles are ~14,000V each. When you build more than 250ft from the road (I'm 650ft), they transform that voltage to 7200V with a primary transformer on the pole and use HV lines underground (or above ground but that is old school) to a pad mounted secondary transformer. To keep the underground cables cheaper, they run high voltage through them, then transform the power to what your house will need, typically 240/120V ~200A at the secondary transformer.

If I was within 250ft of the road I would not need the HV underground cable.

On another forum, an electrician told me that thick cable they have going to my secondary transformer is actually a 2 conductor cable, that's why it's so big. He says they would have to pull that cable and replace it with a 3 conductor for 3 PH. I guess they don't use 3 separate cables...

I still don't understand why I would have a 2 conductor cable for 1PH power though, lol...