Have you ever wondered about the difference between single-phase and three-phase circuits? If you currently reside in North America then you are likely accustomed to single-phase circuit power throughout your home. Although single-phase circuits are popular among residential homes and smaller commercial business buildings, some businesses may consider switching to three-phase circuits in order to reduce long-term electricity costs and improve the efficiency of their building’s electrical power supply. In order to provide you with a better understanding of the difference between single-phase and three-phase circuits, Expert Electric breaks down the difference, advantages and disadvantages of each below:

Single-phase circuits are generally used to power residential homes and smaller business buildings whereas three-phase circuits are common in large industrial buildings that require a more significant amount of electrical power. Not only does a single-phase circuit require a larger electrical current than a three-phase circuit, it is less efficient with its transferal of power. This is because its current only alternates between two wires; therefore, there is a point in the process where the electrical power in a single-phase circuit drops to zero. Since a three-phase circuit transfers the current between three wires, it is more efficient with the transferal of its electrical power and therefore never allows the power to drop to zero. This allows a three-phase circuit to provide electrical power to systems that demand more electricity.

The advantage of implementing a three-phase circuit is cost-savings. Three-phase circuits are more efficient with their transferal of electrical power; therefore, they are capable of powering much more at a lower cost. Office buildings and manufacturing plants can still operate with single-phase circuits although they would be more efficient with their power supply if they made the switch to three-phase circuits. The real difference between single-phase and three-phase circuits can be seen in large data centers and manufacturing buildings. These large facilities require more power to run their operations and will therefore witness greater efficiency and savings by making the switch.

Many of us can forget about our households energy consumption in the mist of busy daily life.  However, for those who look a bit deeper into specific energy costs, families will be able to determine where their homes’ energy is going and can make adjustments to reduce their energy bills.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, as much as 45% of your homes’ energy goes towards space heating. This means your heating, cooling, and air conditioning system is going to have a huge impact on your usage. Make sure you have checked your house for any leaks and that the appropriate insulation is installed or you will be losing heat that you have paid for.

Much of your other costs are coming from appliances and lighting. Lighting costs can be controlled by using energy efficient bulbs like LEDs. Make sure you are also turning off the lights in rooms you are not using. When running your appliances, try to use them only when you have full loads. It goes without saying that running the dishwasher or washing machine at half capacity will cost you more. If you can bundle more or wait for a larger load you can keep the number of times you are running your appliances down.

One way to determine your usage is to use an energy monitor. These types of devices cost around $30 to $40. They will let you know how much energy you are using to turn on and run these appliances or electronics. BC Hydro has also supplied a calculator you can use to estimate the cost per year. Sometimes upgrading your appliances can save you hundreds per year in efficiency.

By Blake Daniel, Franchisee of Mr. Electric of West Fort Worth

Whether it’s due to thunderstorms in the spring, ice storms in the winter, or blazing heat and power distribution regulation in the summer, the electricity supplied to your home can be unstable at times. This makes your home vulnerable to power surges.

Preventing power surge damage has traditionally been left to the consumer to guess what to do. Do you buy numerous surge protectors and power strips? Do you spend time running around the house during a lightning storm unplugging everything in sight, while putting yourself at risk for electrical shock? Or, do you rely on your homeowner’s insurance policy to cover any power surge losses that may occur?

Now there is no need to worry, you can protect your investments by preventing power surge damage with a Whole House Panel Surge Protector, the heart of industrial protection for your home. There are features not seen in the marketplace until now, creating a main zone of protection and acts as your first line of defense while stopping power surges before they can enter the house through the transmission lines.

As the main line of defense, a Whole House Panel Surge Protector prevents high-energy power surges from ever entering into your home and protects your electrical panel, motor-driven, and other AC-powered appliances in your home against power surge damage.

While this is not a one-unit, full coverage surge protector, as there are many ways in which you can receive a surge, you can be confident that your electrical panel and most electrical items in your house are covered. If you would like more information on how to protect your house from power surges, ask your local Mr. Electric service professional.