AC Power –Three Phase

Power Measurement, Safety,

Residential Wiring
 Three Phase Power
Measurement
• Wattmeter - instrument for measuring
the average (or real) power in single-
phase circuits.
• A single wattmeter can also measure the
average power in a three-phase system
that is balanced, so that P1=P2=P3
• the total power is three times the
reading of that one wattmeter.
• However, two or three single-phase
wattmeters are necessary to measure power
if the system is unbalanced.
• The three- wattmeter method of power
measurement, will work regardless of
whether the load is balanced or
unbalanced, wye- or delta-connected.
• The three-wattmeter method is well suited
for power measurement in a three-phase
system where the power factor is constantly
changing.
• The total average power is the
algebraic sum of the three wattmeter
readings, PT = P1+P2+P3
• P1, P2, P3 corresponds to the readings of
wattmeter W1, W2, W3.
• The common or reference point o is
selected arbitrarily.
• If the load is wye-connected, point o can be
connected to the neutral point n. For a
delta-connected load, point o can be
connected to any point.
• If point o is connected to point b, for
example, the voltage coil in wattmeter W2
reads zero and P2 = 0 indicating that
wattmeter is not necessary. Thus, two
wattmeters are sufficient to measure the
total power.
Two Wattmeter Method
• The two-wattmeter method is the most commonly used
method for three-phase power measurement.
• The two wattmeters must be properly connected to any two
phases.
• Notice that the current coil of each wattmeter measures the
line current,
• while the respective voltage coil is connected between the
line and the third line and measures the line voltage.
• Also notice that the ± terminal of the voltage coil is
connected to the line to which the corresponding current
coil is connected.
• Although the individual wattmeters no longer read the power
taken by any particular phase, the algebraic sum of the two
wattmeter readings equals the total average power absorbed
by the load, regardless of whether it is wye- or delta-
connected, balanced or unbalanced.
• The total real power is equal to the
algebraic sum of the two wattmeter
readings, PT = P1+ P2
• Consider the balanced, wye-connected load.
Apply the two-wattmeter method to find the
average power absorbed by the load.
• Assume the source is in the abc sequence and
the load impedance ZY = ZY.
• Due to the load impedance, each voltage coil
leads its current coil by  so that the power
factor is cos .
• Each line voltage leads the corresponding phase
voltage by 30.
• Thus, the total phase difference between the
phase current Ia and line voltage Vab is  + 30
• Average power read by wattmeter W1 is

• Average power read by wattmeter 2 is

• the sum of the wattmeter readings gives
the total average power,
• the difference of the wattmeter readings is
proportional to the total reactive power,
• Although these results are derived from
a balanced wye-connected load, they are
equally valid for a balanced delta-
connected load.
• However, the two-wattmeter method
cannot be used for power measurement in
a three-phase four-wire system unless
the current through the neutral line is
zero.
• We use the three-wattmeter method to
measure the real power in a three-phase
four-wire system.
For a delta connected load VP = VL = 220 V
The three-phase balanced load in Fig. has
impedance per phase of ZY = 8 + j6 Ω . If the load
is connected to 208-V lines, predict the readings of
the wattmeters W1 and W2 and Find PT and QT.
Residential Wiring
• In the US, most household lighting and appliances
operate on 120-V, 60-Hz, single-phase alternating
current. (The electricity may also be supplied at 110,
115, or 117 V, depending on the location.) The local
power company supplies the house with a three-wire
ac system. The line voltage of, say, 12,000 V is
stepped down to 120/240 V with a transformer. The
three wires coming from the transformer are typically
coloured red (hot), black (hot), and white (neutral).
The two 120-V voltages are opposite in phase and
hence add up to zero. That is,
Single Phase Three Wire
Residential Wiring
Typical Wiring diagram of Room
• Since most appliances are designed to operate
with 120 V, the lighting and appliances are
connected to the 120-V lines. All appliances
are connected in parallel. Heavy appliances that
consume large currents, such as air
conditioners, dishwashers, ovens, and laundry
machines, are connected to the 240-V power
line.
• To avoid trouble, insulation, grounding,
fuses, and circuit breakers are used.
Modern wiring codes require a third wire
for a separate ground. The ground wire
does not carry power like the neutral wire
but enables appliances to have a separate
ground connection. Neutral line is
connected to the ground (the earth) at
many critical locations.
 Grounding
• First, it is required by National Electrical Code
NEC.
• Second, grounding provides a convenient
path to ground for lightning that strikes the
power line.
• Third, grounds minimize the risk of electric
shock.
• shock is the passage of current from one
part of the body to another.
• The human body is like a big resistor R. If
V is the potential difference between the body
and the ground, the current through the body is
deter- mined by Ohm’s law as I = V / R
• The value of R varies from person to person and
depends on whether the body is wet or dry. How
great or how deadly the shock is depends on
the amount of current, the pathway of the
current through the body, and the length of time
the body is exposed to the current
• . Currents less than 1 mA may not be
harmful to the body, but currents greater than
10 mA can cause severe shock.
• A modern safety device is the ground-fault circuit
interrupter (GFCI), used in outdoor circuits and
in bathrooms, where the risk of electric
shock is greatest.
• It is essentially a circuit breaker that opens
when the sum of the currents
Fuses
1.A fault in an appliance can cause the
current to be too great and can lead to the
wire overheating and possibly causing a
fire.
2.A fuse is designed to melt if the current
through a circuit is too high, thereby
breaking the circuit
3.The fuse should be just higher than the
normal working current
4.A circuit breaker can be reset rather than
replaced
1.If an appliance has a metal case it needs
to be earthed.
2.A fault could cause the live wire to touch
the metal case. If the appliance is earthed
a large current flows down the earth wire
and melts the fuse. If the appliance was
not earthed there would be a risk of
electrocution.
• A circuit breaker is an electromagnetic
switch that opens and cuts the current off
if too much current passes through it.
 Safety Guidelines
• • Never assume that an electrical circuit
is dead. Always check to be sure.
• • Use safety devices when necessary,
and wear suitable clothing (insulated
shoes, gloves, etc.).
• • Never use two hands when testing high-
voltage circuits, since the current through
one hand to the other hand has a
direct path through your chest and heart.
• • Do not touch an electrical appliance
when you are wet. Remember that
water conducts electricity.
• • Be extremely careful when working
with electronic appliances such as radio
and TV because these appliances have
large capacitors in them. The capacitors
take time to discharge after the power is
disconnected.
• • Always have another person present
when working on a wiring system, just in
case of an accident.
 Voltages in a Wye Circuit
• For a balanced Y system

– Magnitude of line-to-line voltage is 3 times

the magnitude of phase voltage
• Each line-to-line voltage
– Leads corresponding phase voltage by 30°
• Line-to-line voltages form a balanced set
 Currents for a Wye Circuit
• Line currents
– Same as phase currents
– Ia = Van/Zan
• Line currents form a balanced set
 Currents for a Delta Load
• In a balanced delta

– The magnitude of the line current is 3 times

the magnitude of the phase current

– Each line current lags its corresponding

phase current by 30°

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 Active Power to a Balanced
Wye Load
• P = VI cos 
• PT = 3P = 3VI cos 
• PT = 3 VLIL cos 
• P = I2R
• PT = 3I2R

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 Reactive Power to a Balanced
Wye Load
• Q = VI sin 
• QT = 3 VLIL sin 
• Q = I2X
• Units are VARs

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 Measuring Power in Three-
Phase Circuits
• For a three-wire system
– Only two meters are needed
• Loads may be Y or 
• Loads may be balanced or unbalanced
• Total power is algebraic sum of meter
readings

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