Has anyone got, or better still converted their home electric supply from single phase to 3 phase? My electric guy is claiming, since I'm a bit of an air conditioning electric junkie I could reduce my electric bill by 30-40% every month. But of course there is a cost to do it, so want some verification that the claim is true

is there 3 phase available at the street?

Nope.

3 Phase will cost the same as single phase.

It's all about the amount of watts that the ACs are drawing, which dictates how many units you are burning up. Nothing to do with the actual method of supply.

If a AC uses 3KW and you run it for an hour, then you have used 3 KWH (3 kilowatt hours) your meter measures the amount of watts drawn.

I think your electric guy is licking his lips at charging you for a 3 phase system that you don't need. It's not about you saving money, it's about him making money.

As noted above, you're not going to save anything on your bill by moving to 3-phase.

What size meter do you have now (it will be marked 5/15, 15/45 or 30/100)? You may be able to upgrade to a bigger supply if you are close to the limit.

How many and how big (BTUs) are your aircons? Do you run them all at once?

What about water heaters, they are the other big users?

What is the rating (Amps) of your incoming breaker? Has it ever tripped?

And, of course, is 3-phase available in the street? Look at the pole with your meter on, if it has 4 wires on small insulators then you have 3-phase available. Post a photo if you're not sure.

We have 3 phase....methinks price is the same.

Cost per unit on 3 phase is the same as single phase. Cost for 3 phase meter, wiring and load centers is substantially more than single phase though.

So whoever told you going 3-phase will save money, is lying or stupid.

I would not condem the guy prematurely before checking the tariff options.

http://www.mea.or.th/profile/index.php?l=en&tid=3&mid=258&pid=109

(check through the options on the left hand menu)

There is whole lot of options for the high consumers.

You would probably be connected to a high voltage connecting point, invest in your own transformer and get substantially better rates per kWh with higher base cost (service fee).

Just speculating honestly.

How do you communicate wiht the guy? Is he fluent in English or you in Thai to explain the details?

Otherwise some help in translation needed.

What is your (planned) avarage consumption?

A general thread about 3 phase electrity ran in 2012:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/578212-3-phase-residential-electricity/

Browsed through, but could find something about the rates/cost.

A general thread about 3 phase electrity ran in 2012:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/578212-3-phase-residential-electricity/

Browsed through, but could find something about the rates/cost.

Good thread. Off to PEA tomorrow morning to get some more info. Talking to government official, great way to waste a morning of my life, but hey what else do I have to do with my time

We still don't know if you really need 3-phase

It won't save anything. It is about how much you use, not how many wires the electricity runs through.

having a 3-phase connection comes in very handy if you have multiple aircons installed and equally distributed. if one or two phases are down you still some cool areas in your home. but that convenience does not save you a single Satang on your electricity bill.

having a 3-phase connection comes in very handy if you have multiple aircons installed and equally distributed. if one or two phases are down you still some cool areas in your home. but that convenience does not save you a single Satang on your electricity bill.

Or you get some machines that need 3 Phase.