Domestic 3 Phase, Tariffs and Supplier Switching

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Some time back I had three a three phase incomer put in but it was never connected due to being let down by 3 electricians and general life issues getting in the way. Put one of Drives Direct plug'n play 10 HP modified VFD boxes in as a temporary measure. Nowt so permanent as a temporary measure! But now I wan't to put in a bigger compressor whose 4 HP motor is more than I think the DD box should be asked to start.

Looking to resurrect the three phase connection but these days you pretty much have to switch electricity suppliers on a regular basis to avoid being ripped off too much. Can you still do this with three phase and, if so do you get same tariffs?

Clive

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

[This posting has been removed]

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Thanks Bill. Looks like three or single phase is no great issue then. All electricity.

I could do without the shifting hassle but best deal is usually about £200 + a year saving so whats a boy to do.

Clive

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

[This posting has been removed]

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

When I built the shed in 2004 I ran four core SWA cable from the house to the shed. I got prices from the network supplier (western power distribution) for a change from single to three phase. The price was not unreasonable, £1400 with me doing all of the work up to the last two foot under the pavement. Trouble is that I couldn't really afford it then. Then a friend let me have a 23kVA VFD/Inverter for a silly amount and I've run the shed from that since then, with it de-rated to 5kVA. If the inverter ever blows up, I might need to get the supply upgraded, but I'm saving the money until then.

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Oddly, it seems that one doesn't have to get all 3 phases from the same supplier.

Some might remember my tale about a friend quietening my generator down by collapsing his house around it.

As part of the ongoing building works, he wanted a 3 phase supply fitting; He already had 2 phases, generating a synthetic 3rd phase from a dual transformer set-up.

The supplier of his 2 existing phases didn't take on new connections, claiming that adding another phase amounted to a new connection. They suggested that they continue to bill him for the two phases he already had, but to get a second supplier to install and bill him for the 3rd phase.

The saga went on for months, but eventually a different supplier has fitted a 3rd phase and taken on the billing for all three.

Bill

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Posted by peak4 on 24/07/2018 23:21:33:

Oddly, it seems that one doesn't have to get all 3 phases from the same supplier.

The supplier of his 2 existing phases didn't take on new connections, claiming that adding another phase amounted to a new connection. They suggested that they continue to bill him for the two phases he already had, but to get a second supplier to install and bill him for the 3rd phase.

The saga went on for months, but eventually a different supplier has fitted a 3rd phase and taken on the billing for all three.

Bill

Oh lor. This is the sort of thing that gives my headache a headache! What is it about being big supplier that drives folk to make everything idiot complicated. Haven't they heard of KISS. Worst of it is that these folk are all basically billing agents! How hard can that be.

Think Bill Chugg is lucky that Scottish Hydro look after him decently. Part of SSE so I can't get them to supply down in Sussex. SSE themselves not nice. Like what started the switching thingy "We are going to save you money next year. Prices going up 20% or 25% on a two year fix.". Giving a 20 year(ish) customer a worse deal than walk in off the street newbie is a real good way to build band loyalty. Two years and two switches on I'm back with SEE on a switch deal thats rather cheaper than what they wanted to foist on me.

Mark Rand seems to be in pretty much the same place a me with his big inverter running everything. I know just how effective a solution that is but single point of failure worries me. Especially as its a custom modified device and not an easy off the shelf replacement. Current list is around £2,500! It already grunts bit when I start my Smart & Brown 1024 with a decent size job in the chuck. No clutch on the S&B. Figure the bigger compressor will be a horsepower too far in the long term. Of course my inverter is only rated 10 HP, say 8 KVA derating to2.2 KVA for a 3 hp motor so Mark has a lot more safety margin with his 23 KVA beast. I imagine the switch on surge as the capacitors first charge up is impressive.

Interestingly the hardware needed to finish my 3 phase installation will cost about the same as giving all 10 machine its own inverter if I use the Eaton DE 1 series " DOL / soft starter replacement" types. These are about 2/3 rds price of the usual name brand variety. Got one coming tomorrow for my car lift so will see how good they are.

Clive.

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Posted by Clive Foster on 25/07/2018 18:56:34:

Posted by peak4 on 24/07/2018 23:21:33:

Oddly, it seems that one doesn't have to get all 3 phases from the same supplier.

The supplier of his 2 existing phases didn't take on new connections, claiming that adding another phase amounted to a new connection. They suggested that they continue to bill him for the two phases he already had, but to get a second supplier to install and bill him for the 3rd phase.

The saga went on for months, but eventually a different supplier has fitted a 3rd phase and taken on the billing for all three.

Bill

Oh lor. This is the sort of thing that gives my headache a headache! What is it about being big supplier that drives folk to make everything idiot complicated. Haven't they heard of KISS. Worst of it is that these folk are all basically billing agents! How hard can that be.

Clive.

It was even sillier than that, as part of the emergency dangerous structures work, the main power supply was physically disconnected outside the property boundary by digging up the pavement.

Eventually my mate built new facilities for the incoming services, essentially a separate external block built cupboard for gas and electric meters, as the previous ones were in the cellar.

He asked his supplier to move the 2 existing meters to the new location, this was before they decided they couldn't connect a 3rd phase.

They couldn't/wouldn't move the meters, without taking readings first, as he was getting a "new" supply. They clearly needed the readings from the old ones, but unfortunately they were smart meters. Well not that smart, as they were no longer connected to working supply; ergo they weren't powered up so no-one could read them.

It took months to resolve, and delayed the work considerably as he no longer had any power on site.

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