3 phase electricity

[guitarman]

wonder if anyone can help. ive just purchased a 9bedroom house, and have approved planning for 5 flats, the house was commercial before (a womans refuge) there is a 3 phase board there but unfortunatley only a single phase supply. as i am going to require 4 new supplies in total, im wondering if its cheaper to request 2 x 3 phase supplies, my reckoning is it might be cheaper and hopefully i will only have to dig 1 trench. can anyone advise me on these possibilities or point me in the right direction? thanks in advance.

 

[HandySparks]

If you ask for two 3-phase supplies, that's what they'll meter it as. Surely you want 5 single phase meters (plus one for common areas?). I guess one trench with a three phase cable and two meters on each phase, located somewhere accessible to all. Capacity will depend on whether you're using electricity for heating and hot water, electric showers, etc.

 

[Knobhead]

You need to contact the distribution company for your area. There's to many options to discuss here. Your electrician should be able to advise you.

 

[Richard Burns]

If you have a three phase board in the place then it is very likely that the supply is three phase but possibly with two phases blanked off, I cannot see any one spending the money to remove two unused conductors when they can be isolated.
If you have a three phase supply then it just needs splitting into two for each phase and running the supply to each flat and the common areas. Current demand would not be that high for flats.

To request two three phase supplies would be very expensive and I would have thought unnecessary.

 

[bartkusal]

Surely, if there is a 3phase board, you have 3phase suply, probably 2 phases blanked as said before. Fierly simple then. P1- 2flats, P2- 2flats, P3 - 1flat and comunal areas

 

[guitarman]

If you ask for two 3-phase supplies, that's what they'll meter it as. Surely you want 5 single phase meters (plus one for common areas?). I guess one trench with a three phase cable and two meters on each phase, located somewhere accessible to all. Capacity will depend on whether you're using electricity for heating and hot water, electric showers, etc.

i never even thought of that, so will they allow all this in 1 trench? i done a refurb last year and ordered 2 supplies and was told to dig 2 trenches, when the guys came to lay the cable they just used 1 trench, i had dug 1 trench and wasted my time.
so i can get a 3 phase cable and put 2 meters on each? and repeat that.

so i just order 5 single phase supplies, can 5 supplies come off a 3 phase supply?
thanks for your quick response.

 

[guitarman]

could you run 2 flats off 1 phase? in total i have plans for 2x 1 bedroom flats, and 2x 2bedroom flats and 1x 3bedroom. bear in mind the electricity is already there. ill check with my electrician about if there is 3 phase already there. it was a womens refuge before i cant see how they run a 9 bedroom house on single phase, is that possible? thanks for help

 

[guitarman]

You need to contact the distribution company for your area. There's to many options to discuss here. Your electrician should be able to advise you.

thanks tony, dont know where to start, minefield it is, im in the north east of england, do i contact someone like eon for example?

 

[guitarman]

in the 5 flats mentioned above, none will have electric showers, and the hobs will also be gas, only the ovens will be electric x 5. so can anyone tell me approx how big a load per flat will be needed? or what total load i will need for the whole project? bearing in mind the existing supply which i want to keep.

 

[trev]

thanks tony, dont know where to start, minefield it is, im in the north east of england, do i contact someone like eon for example?

NEDL or your supplier would be my first ports of call

 

[guitarman]

yes will do

 

[trev]

I'd be happy to come to advise and quote you for this work Guitarman. PM me if interested

 

[guitarman]

cant seem to pm you trev, as i need 15 posts apparently. i have my own electrician, but im interested to know what you could quote me for trev?

 

[trev]

cant seem to pm you trev, as i need 15 posts apparently. i have my own electrician, but im interested to know what you could quote me for trev?

PM sent to you with my details

 

[Amp David]

I'd be happy to come to advise and quote you for this work Guitarman. PM me if interested

Don't forget the forums cut, a la Rated People etc