3 Phase Generator

A 3-phase generator is simply three AC single-phase generators. A 3-phase generator uses three active wires 120 degrees apart and a neutral wire. In a three-phase system, the three active wires feed alternately into the neutral wire. So, the power is distributed in three different waveforms in sequence but with some degree of overlap, which means that the power delivery is never completely zero.

The uses of 3-phase generators

Due to the high and stable power, 3-phase power generators, particularly 3-phase diesel generators, are ideal for running industrial and commercial units where high and continuous power is required. They have been widely installed at places like hospitals, banks, grocery stores, data centers, and shopping malls. Also, 3-phase portable generators and small 3-phase generators are perfect choices for outdoor use. It's worth mentioning that in the event of a power outage, a three-phase generator is especially useful to power the entire house.

3-phase generators vs. single-phase generators

In a single-phase generator, electricity flows through one conductor, whereas in a three-phase generator, electricity flows through three conductors. In this way, when faced with a network failure, the power supply of a single-phase generator will drop completely. However, if a fault occurs in one of the three-phase types, others will still supply power. 3-phase generators are powerful devices with a typical output voltage of 480 volts, while single-phase generators have an output voltage of up to 240 volts. This means that single-phase generators are ideal for home appliances that require small loads, whereas 480-volt generators are perfect for large-load applications. Besides that, a 480V 3-phase generator is flexible enough to step up or down using a transformer. Moreover, 3-phase generators score because they are smaller than single-phase generators, which means that a 3-phase type is lighter than its single-phase counterparts. Regarding the total costs, 3-phase generators are much more economical as they cost less to generate the same amounts of power and perform well with hardly any maintenance issues.