Three Phase Electric Home Converstion

[junglechef]

I bought a house that the electric co. says is wired for 3 phase (I think they mean from the road to the house but only guessing) and I just need them to install a new meter. Had an electrician check house and he says it can take 3 phase too but not sure about his advice as he said it would take him a 1/2 a day of checking and after installing a few lights he said it all checked out. I know absolutely nothing about this kind of thing and need some advice that I could be of help to me (and can understand).

[Crossy]

OK photos of your meter and distribution board (with the lid off if you're confident to do that) would be a good place to start.

Far easier than trying to describe what you need to look for

EDIT Not specific to Chiang Mai, let's put this in DIY

[InterestedObserver]

More to the point, if the house is wired for 3-phase and 3-phase is/was available from PEA then why is there no 3-phase meter already installed?

[slapout]

If house was vacant and electric bill not paid, the electric was probably turned off and the meter removed by the electric company. If you have a 50 amp breaker in the house and 3 lines from the meter pole to your house it is 3 phase, if memory serves correctly.

[InterestedObserver]

If house was vacant and electric bill not paid, the electric was probably turned off and the meter removed by the electric company. If you have a 50 amp breaker in the house and 3 lines from the meter pole to your house it is 3 phase, if memory serves correctly.

Actually four lines (3P4W) from the meter pole to your house, 3P3W would be rather unusual for a house.

Edited June 26, 2011 by InterestedObserver

[junglechef]

Thanks for all the feedback. Hopefully I can clarify some things.

I've attached pics as suggested. Of the 2 wires coming out of the meter one goes to the house and the other is split into 3, each going to the house, making 4 in total going to the house. There is a 60A breaker in the distribution box inside the house.

Also the wires go down my driveway on poles and then underground across the front yard to the house (not sure where they come up but I think up to inside the outer wall where there is a metal plate that had had rusty screws and has been painted over)

The electric office said the previous owner ran 3 phase wire from the street to the house and we think perhaps they didn't want to put down a 12,000 baht deposit for the 3 phase meter.

[Crossy]

The electric office said the previous owner ran 3 phase wire from the street to the house and we think perhaps they didn't want to put down a 12,000 baht deposit for the 3 phase meter.

I'd put money on that

Looks like the house is wired for 3-phase so if your load requires it you're in a good position to get it working

Be aware that your poor little 15/45 meter is protected from overload by an effective 180A breaker (3x60A) you you could easily send it into orbit.

[InterestedObserver]

I notice that the metal "distribution box" is not properly grounded, no connection to the grounding stud provided. How about the ground rod for the house, is there one with a secure connection?

[JeffreyMcCollum]

If all you want is power, pay the deposit and put the meter on.

Doesn't really seem like you need three phase but if all you want is lights and stuff why change now ?

[InterestedObserver]

If all you want is power, pay the deposit and put the meter on.

Doesn't really seem like you need three phase but if all you want is lights and stuff why change now ?

Yup and when the meter disk is routinely spinning so fast that you cannot count the revelations then it's time for a 3-phase meter.

[junglechef]

Appreciate the help. Don't know about a ground rod, never seen anything as described on my internet search. The original builders told me they had problems with the electricals, caused by the original electrician, and had to have someone else come in a fix things so perhaps since it was not done correctly in the first place it was not all put back right. The reason we want to upgrade to 3 phase that such things as when we shower and the hot water heater goes on the lights dim and lots of the light bulbs blow out often at other times (we've just upgraded to a better quality bulb to see if this is the problem). We just finished remolding where we put in lots of new lights (around 20), 7 ceiling fans and now want to install a few more of both as well as power up more things (entertainment center w/1000W amp etc.). Also having other problems such as one of the new dimmer switches just broke (blew up!). What say you??

[InterestedObserver]

I'd get somebody to do a electrical demand calculation to get an idea just what your requirements are, or will be in the future when all the air cons and water heaters are installed. Low voltage (dim lights) when showering is more of a PEA distribution problem. Since you already have the means to switch to 3-phase there is not much you can do there. You need to make certain that the wiring is correct, including a ground rod, before switching to 3-phase or things could really "blow out".