In the US, typical residential power is 120/240 V split phase (center tapped, grounded neutral), often erroneously called “2-phase” (Black L1, Red L2, white neutral, green earth)
Commercial power is often 120/208V wye, grounded neutral, which is basically compatible with the split phase system in the sense that a
230 V load can usually be powered by 2 legs (the 208 is often closer to 211), sometimes a boost autotransformer is used. (Black L1, Red L2, Blue L3, white neutral, green earth)
There is also 277/480 wye for larger commercial loads, where the 277 single phase is often used for lighting loads (Brown L1, Orange L2, Yellow or Violet L3, grey neutral, green earth)
In older communities, a 230V delta was sometimes used, with one phase center tapped and grounded. You had three phase available, with 115/230 as well. Terrible idea, glad it’s gone! (mostly)
Scott W7SVJ
I find all the different distribution voltages and connection very interesting, not to mention trying to keep all the color codes straight!
From: Doug Jackson <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 8, 2022 6:18 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Australian Power cords.
Yep
That implies that the 415 number is now technically incorrect given the change to 230v - but absolutely 240v line to neutral.

Kindest regards,
Doug Jackson
ph: 0414 986878
Check out my awesome clocks at www.dougswordclocks.com
Follow my amateur radio adventures at vk1zdj.net
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On Thu, 9 Jun 2022 at 11:12, <[email protected]> wrote:
So, 240V line to neutral? (415/sqrt3)
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Doug Jackson
Sent: Wednesday, June 8, 2022 6:03 PM
To: ken Schwieker <[email protected]>
Cc: Greenkeys <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Australian Power cords.
We have a Mains Earth Neutral system (MEN).
Voltage is supplied between an active line and a neutral, with the neutral also being earth bonded at the switchboard.
Pulling current from any pin to ground will trip a safety element called a Residual Current Device (RCD) - That's what protects kids from sticking forks into toasters..
We also have 415 volts available in domestic homes if they have all three phases pulled into the house, measured between the phases.
Kindest regards,
Doug Jackson
ph: 0414 986878
Check out my awesome clocks at www.dougswordclocks.com
Follow my amateur radio adventures at vk1zdj.net
-----------------------------------------------------------
Just like an old fashioned letter, this email and any files transmitted with it should probably be treated as confidential and intended solely for your own use.
Please note that any interesting spelling is usually my own and may have been caused by fat thumbs on a tiny tiny keyboard.
Should any part of this message prove to be useful in the event of the imminent Zombie Apocalypse then the sender bears no personal, legal, or moral responsibility for any outcome resulting from its usage unless the result of said usage is the unlikely defeat of the Zombie Hordes in which case the sender takes full credit without any theoretical or actual legal liability. :-)
Be nice to your parents.
Go outside and do something awesome - Draw, paint, walk, setup a radio station, go fishing or sailing - just do something that makes you happy.
^G ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G- In more laid back days this line would literally sing ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G
On Thu, 9 Jun 2022 at 10:50, ken Schwieker <[email protected]> wrote:
Been wondering something about your power. If you
measured from each pin to ground what would the
reading be? If at the mid point can you pull any
current from one pin to ground?
Ken S
>Yep,
>We have been 240v since the dawn of time, then
the Europeans mucked around with a standard and now we are 230v.
>In typical Oz humor, we defined the voltage
standard as being 230 V as the nominal voltage
with a +10% to –6% variation at the point of supply, i.e., 253 V >to 216.2 V.
>I had a mate of mine spend too much time in
Europe and it made his brain go funny - He
almost had a meltdown when I showed him the 240V from his >mains socket...
>Kindest regards,
>Doug Jackson
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