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Thread: 1 or 3 phase power for new home

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    Default 1 or 3 phase power for new home

    We are running through variations with the builder at the moment for our new home and they mentioned to us that we should consider putting in 3 phase power if we are going to be running a ducted A/C unit.

    Is this true, anyone here running a large A/C unit on 1 phase power?

    If it makes any difference it is a single story house, would have an average home power consumption, only extras as i see it would be A/C and pool pump.



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    Senior Member autotuner's Avatar
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    When I had ducted Air installed I was told that 3 phase would be better, but my budget didn't stretch to getting it run in, so I went with the largest Single phase model.
    In hindsight I should have sold a kidney to get the 3 phase, it struggles on really hot days, my house single story, and is not huge.

    My mate has the same brand as mine, but in 3 phase, it seems to get lots colder , quicker.

    If I was building again, I'd get 3 phase connected from the outset.
    I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy...

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    I went with 3 phase.

    Greater efficiency.

    Also divided up power and lighting circuits across all three phases.

    Often with power disruptions, only one phase goes down, so only part of the house is affected and if for example your fridge/freezer was going to be off for a while, you can run an extension cable to a power outlet in the house that is on a phase that's still working.

    The same with lighting.... the whole place isn't left in the dark.

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    Also a 3 Phase is good if you are running an Air Compressor or electric welding, it doesn't disrupt while watching!

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    Default Inverter Air Conditioners.

    G'day Cobbers,
    I realise this is only a side issue, but I was unaware of the exact difference.
    There is another thread where posters are talking about cycling of their units and I could not find that mine was behaving that way. So here is the explanation for greater efficiency.

    Quote Originally Posted by panasonic
    What is Inverter technology? Why should you choose an Inverter Air Conditioner?
    An Inverter Air Conditioning unit constantly adjusts compressor rotation speed to provide optimum performance at all times. This extremely precise operation enables quick cooling while reducing power consumption compared to conventional non-inverter units. Inverter Air Conditioning units are able to maintain a set temperature much more efficiently than a fixed speed unit.
    I'm aware that there is a defrost cycle in very cold weather and that this may be what is being referred to.
    Most certainly worth bearing in mind.
    Kindest Regards, " The Druid ".

    Last edited by beer4life; 04-03-10 at 02:11 PM.

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    When my daughter moved to her new home, the power bloke came to turn on the power and he told her to hang onto the 3 phase system installed, Ducted A/C, as the companies were discouraging 3 phase installations.
    This was Intergal, in the Gosford Area.
    I thought that was a bit odd but he was adamant that the company did not want 3 phase domestic connections.
    I thought these 'new' Invertor systems were to 'cheat' the A/C into thinking it has a 3 phase supply and designed for locations where 3 phase might not be immediately available.
    Thats what one salesman told me anyway.
    Untill the supplier moved a transformer to the pole at my fence, I didnt have 3 phase nor did the other houses on that same line.
    By that I mean there were only a Pair of wires passing me from the transformer end.
    Last edited by gordon_s1942; 04-03-10 at 04:19 PM.

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    a 3 phase ducted A/C unit is the way to go. Most new units have "soft" start to remove the "dip" when the compressor starts. 1 phase A/C units tend to be modular (wall, floor, window etc) and the inverter units convert the indoor unit from AC to DC to control the fan speed better with soft start control on the compressor

    The advantage of a 3 phase unit is the a/c unit is typically alot larger in capacity and the 3 phases equally share the load and again have less impact on the power grid and again no dip

    for a salesman to insist on 1 phase is probably for profit margin only - very easy to install

    go for the 3 phase unit if you have 3 phases available



    f

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    when i biult my place i DEMANDED all 3 phases to the meter box

    just the same as mtv spilt it across the system, 1 phase lights, 1 power, 1 cooktop oven ac, also got 15amp socket in the garage!
    When I explained to the guy what avatar I wanted, that wasn't what I meant!

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    At my last house i was planning to install some industrial machines in my garage and wanted to convert over to 3 phase.

    The sparky quoted around $1500 (15 years ago) to run the underground cable from the street to my fusebox and divide the 3 phases across the house.

    At this house i had a single phase 8.3Kw cooling, 9Kw heating inverter fitted to cool just the rear of the house but the honest truth is it had no problems cooling the whole house during Melbournes hot summer.

    Its just a mid sized 3 bedroom home, about 16 squares in size with 2 living areas, no problems cooling the whole thing.

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    Thanks all, you lot have been a great help

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