ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Single phase and what you call it.

Does anyone else have problems when they hear people call 120/240 1p "split phase" or even "2 phase"?

Yikes it sets my teeth on edge.

The problem is even Wikipedia and a few panel manufacturers use the term split phase in their documentation.
Split phase is one way to wire a motor and there is only one phase in your household panel with 2 ungrounded conductors derived from one 240v secondary that just happens to have a grounded center tap. It is simply single phase, nothing else.

... or am I just being too pedantic?

What do you think of the term "three-way switch?"

What bugs me is putting the question mark inside the last quotation mark.

Greg:

Here is a link to "2 phase", courtesy of Scott35

https://www.electrical-contractor.n...&Number=148672&page=3#Post148672

It's buried in the Tech area.

I saw this only once, many, many years ago as a helping hand with one of the 'old timer' ECs in Philadelphia.

It was different, and scary back then.

If I'm not mistaken, it was used with street cars mainly back in the day. Not sure how or it's practicality

Maybe somewhere but I think the streetcars in DC used 600vdc, picked up with a "plow" and the return was the track.

I know it was not on any streetcars, it was n a house of worship in Center City. A sub-basement, way down below grade, and that made it scarier. Heck, if there was any issue, noone would have found us.

How about "It's a two way switch" or calling a 4 gang a "four way" or when the electricity stops it's a "short" or "I need two-twenty" or "I need a 200 volt upgrade"

I found this dictionary , but it appears in need of some updating>>>




~S~

Or the fact that in plumbing, an "open" valve allows flow and a "closed" valve stops it, while for electrical switches it's the opposite!