If your home or business is physically connected to the main power supply (‘the grid’), you will most likely be using single or three phase power.
What's the difference?
Single phase
Single phase means that you have one active wire and one neutral wire connecting your home or business to the grid which carries all of your electricity. This is a very common form of connection, especially in older homes as single phase was originally all that was needed. Now that most homes have more than just a fridge, lights and a TV, you may find that you outgrow a single phase connection.
Three phase
You guessed it, three phase means there are three active wires and one neutral wire connecting your home or business to the grid. As our homes get bigger and we introduce more powerful appliances (i.e. pool heaters, induction cooktops, air conditioners, electric car chargers etc) it’s possible to outgrow the single phase connection.
Three phase allows you to safely power your home and any large appliances without overloading your system. If your system is overloaded it could cause your circuit breaker to trip or main service fuse to blow shutting off the power to your home or business.
How can you tell if you have single or three phase?
There are a few ways you can find out if your home has a single or three phase connection:
Check to see how many cables are coming into your property from the street
Look at how many fuses you have at your point of attachment or meter box
Ask your electricity provider or take a look at a recent bill to see if it mentions your connection
Thinking of upgrading your power connection?
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