UK Can anyone get split-phase? Who does the work?

[nitchinwales]

Hello,

I've been trying to find some information on split-phase today but not having much luck which brings me here.

We're moving house to quite a rural area in Wales. Single phase is only available (c.£50k to get three-phase to the property) and I think we're going to need more power available to us for heat pumps, farm machinery etc. Is it possible to split the phase? If so, who would do it? The DNO (National Grid in our case)? Any idea on how much that might cost? And is there anything else we should consider?

The house has an 80A fuse.

I've attached a picture of where the electric comes in and the transformer (if that's what it is).

Cheers

 

[Julie.]

That is a single phase supply, all you can get is a standard 230V supply without changing the pole transformer.

However, you can request two supplies or a single high current one.

So perhaps 100A to the house and another to the farm.

You would need to keep the two supplies separate of course.

 

[davesparks]

That is a single phase supply, all you can get is a standard 230V supply without changing the pole transformer.

With the 3 wires on the LV side could that be split phase already?

 

[nitchinwales]

That is a single phase supply, all you can get is a standard 230V supply without changing the pole transformer.

However, you can request two supplies or a single high current one.

So perhaps 100A to the house and another to the farm.

You would need to keep the two supplies separate of course.

Thanks for the reply. If they change the pole transformer, would that be to a high current one which could be split? Would the DNO carry that out? I assume that would be a lot cheaper than them running the three phase supply.

Would going for two supplies be easier/cheaper?

Many thanks

 

[Julie.]

With the 3 wires on the LV side could that be split phase already?

Could be, but more likely to be the earth I would guess as they appear to all be the same size.

Edit

Actually zooming in, each line is insulated so it could be.

We won't really know unless the op discusses it with the DNO

 

[Julie.]

Thanks for the reply. If they change the pole transformer, would that be to a high current one which could be split? Would the DNO carry that out? I assume that would be a lot cheaper than them running the three phase supply.

Would going for two supplies be easier/cheaper?

Many thanks

Only the DNO can answer that, ask for the higher rating, or a seperate supply to another building, or three phase.

If they quoted previously, you may have their contact details to discuss with them.

 

[brianmoooore]

With the 3 wires on the LV side could that be split phase already?

Looks like there's a link between the two lower cables, so I expect it's TN-S.
Loads of split phase where I live, but all were original fitment. I don't know of any that have upgraded and needed new transformers in recent years, so I've no idea what they might quote. Only place I know of that has changed from single to split phase recently was a local chapel, where I was told the price was only a couple of hundred pounds, but that only required a new service cable from a local pole and a new head, since the whole village is already split phase on a big Tx.
Treasurer's son worked for Western Power at the time, so there might even have been a bit of inside influence on the quote.

P.S. Forgot the two extra single phase supplies I had connected to my existing split phase transformer, nine years ago. That cost £800 for two 50m buried cables in ducting and two single phase heads.