Why Three-phase Voltage is 440 Volts?

Table of Contents

 What is Single Phase?

 What is Three Phase?

 Why is 440V used for Three Phase?

 Why 440V in three phases rather than 660V or 690V?

 What is the purpose of 440 volts?

 If a single-phase circuit is 230V, why is a three-phase circuit 440V and not 690V?

 Difference between single-phase & three phase

 Difference between 415V & 440V

What is Single Phase?

An electrical system with only one source of alternating voltage is called a single-phase system.Single-phase
uses only two wires, or conductors: a “phase” wire and a “neutral” wire.It is between a phase and the neutral
that voltage is measured.
 SINGLE PHASE

Single Phase Voltage = 230V i.e., Phase to Neutral

Phase VoltageVPH = Line Voltage /√3 = VL/√3

= 400V /√3 ≈ 230V

What is Three Phase?

In an electrical system, the voltage between any two of those three phases is referred to as the three-phase
system.In a three-phase supply, there are three supply lines, all of which are phase-shifted by an angle of 120
degrees relative to one another.Consequently, there is a net voltage differential of 440 volts between the two
phases, which corresponds to a phase angle of 120 degrees.
 THREE PHASE

Three Phase Voltage = 400V

i.e.,Line to Line (or) Phase to Phase

Line Voltage VL = √3 x Phase Voltage = √3 xVPH

= √3 x 230V = 398V ≈ 400V

Why is 440V used for Three Phase?

When consider 230V single phase voltage, they simply increase it by three for three phase addition, as seen
below:

230V + 230V + 230V = 690V

However, this is inapplicable in the case of a three-phase power supply system. Because the EMF produced in
three phase systems is a vector (most likely a phasor, which can be simplified by phasor diagrams) quantity
with magnitude and direction. The vector difference between two 230V lines is 400V.

In this particular instance, the phasor or vector quantities that have a phase difference.
 PHASOR DIAGRAM

Based on the phasor diagram for a three-supply system, where each line has 230V, the vector difference is
about 400V for each phase, i.e., Phase 1& Phase 2, Phase 2 & Phase 3, or Phase 3 & Phase 1.

This is because the phase angle between two phases is 120 degrees, and all three phases change direction
with respect to time, and in the case of 230V, the sine wave changes direction 50 times per second due to the
frequency of 50Hz.

According to the Rule of Cosine, the voltage between any two phases in a three-phase system is 400V rather
than 660 or 690V. This applies only if there are three phases.

[230V2 – 2 x 230V2 x cos (120°)] = 398.37V ≈ 400V

Why 440V in three phases rather than 660V or 690V?

From a different perspective, if draw the sinusoidal waves of three phase power lines that are 120 degrees
apart, the graph clearly reveals that circuit only have two Positive (+Ve) values at the same time and the third
is Negative (-Ve). They only calculate two of the three cycles because they all change direction with regard to
time. In summary, either Phase 1 & 2, Phase 2 &3, or Phase 3 & 1 are positive, whereas Phase 3, Phase 2, or
Phase 1 are negative. As a result, two phases of a three-phase system contain 440V rather than 600, 660, or
690V.

What is the purpose of 440 volts?

Using 440 volts for motors results in a reduction in motor load current, which is half the amount of current
produced by 230 volts.

According to the formula,

kWloss = I2R/1000

the load current is responsible for the line losses.

If a single-phase circuit is 230V, why is a three-phase circuit 440V and not 690V?

1. Voltage is the potential difference between the two points.

2. A single phase voltage is the voltage between two phases. While the 3-phase is a combination of any two of
those three phases.

3. All three phases, i.e., the three wires in the three-phase supply, have the same maximum rms (avg.) value. In
other words, if measure the voltage of any of the phases against neutral, it will be 220 or 240 volts. However,
when the voltage is measured from one phase to the other, it equals 440.

4. Consider a sin wave with a maximum amplitude of 220 relative to its axis. So, whether in a positive or
negative cycle, it can reach a maximum of 220 (+220 or -220).

5. In the case of three phases, the voltage might be applied between two phases rather than one phase and
neutral. So, there are three phases, but the voltage between two phases can be calculated. Even though there
are three phases, calculate the voltage between any two of them at the same time. And the maximum voltage
that received from any two phases is when one is at the top of its positive cycle (i.e., + 220) and the other is at
the bottom of its negative cycle (-220).

((+220) -(-220) =440)

And this is the highest value can beachieved by comparing any two points in any of the phases to each other.

Difference between single-phase & three phase

S.N
SINGLE PHASE THREE PHASE
O

A three-phase connection is comprised of

Electricity flows through a single conductor in a
1 three different wires that are required for
single-phase connection
electrical transmission.

It is capable of carrying a voltage of up to 440

The voltage of a single-phase power supply
2 Volts when connected to a three-phase
system can reach 230 Volts.
system.

Two wires are needed for single-phase electricity In a three-phase connection, one neutral wire
3 flow. One is the neutral wire and the other a and three phase wires are needed to make
phase. the circuit function.

If something happens to one phase of a

A single-phase connection has only one phase
three-phase power supply, the other phases
4 wire, if something problem occurs with the
will still function. There is no interruption in
network, the entire power supply is interrupted.
the power.

It is suitable for light loads such as lighting and Large industrial motors can be powered by a
5
heating. three-phase supply.
 S.N
SINGLE PHASE THREE PHASE
O

The power delivery in three phase supply is

Power distribution in a single-phase supply is
6 always stable and consistent due to three
inconsistent due to voltage peaks and dips.
conductors with a 120° phase difference.

The loss in single phase operation is at its The three-phase circuit has the minimum
7
maximum. amount of loss.

8 It has a very minimal level of efficiency. It has its maximum efficiency.

It is not expensive than the three-phase power It is more expensive than the single-phase
9
supply. supply.

A power supply with a single phase can only On a three-phase connection, the maximum
10
transfer a minimum amount of power. amount of power is transmitted.

Difference between 415V & 440V

S.N
415V 440V
O

1 The RMS voltage from line to line is 415V. The maximum peak voltage is 440V.

The transformer will be at or around 415v To compensate for the transformer’s internal
when completely loaded. It also enables to resistance, the nominal voltage is 440V. At full
2
control for supply variations by using the load, a transformer with 5% impedance will
transformer tappings. drop 5% volts.