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Home / Technical Articles / Power distribution configurations with three 3-phase hot power lines

Local distribution

Power leaves the substation on three, three-phase “hot” power lines that are strung adjacent to highways or along local roads to points of use. All three phases share a single neutral line and have the same voltage, but they are 120 electrical degrees out of phase with each other.

Power distribution configurations with three three-phase hot power lines
Power distribution configurations with three three-phase hot power lines (photo credit: Matt Alsup via Flickr)

The local electrical utility usually decides where the three-phase and single-phase services are to be located in the area that it serves.

Initially dispatched as three phases, the phase lines are separated to feed different localities. The three-phase service for industrial and large commercial customers is separated from the single-phase lines for serving residential, small business, and rural customers.

The nominal 120/240 V power is obtained from transformers strategically located on poles for overhead service and above ground on concrete pads or in underground protective vaults for underground service.

Large electrical appliances such as ranges, water heaters, clothes dryers, and air conditioners typically require 240 V, while 120 V meets the needs for lighting, small appliances, TVs, personal computers, and convenience outlets.

240V distribution pole-mounted transformer
240V distribution pole-mounted transformer (photo credit: Wikipedia)

However, when residences are located in an area served by a 208Y/120 V distributed secondary network, large appliances are powered by 208 V, but lighting, small appliances, entertainment electronics, and outlets are supplied with 120 V.


Common power service

Secondary circuits provide electrical power in various forms to satisfy customer demand. These include following:


Single-phase, three-wire, 120/240 V

The most common distribution wiring configuration for homes, small businesses, and farms is 120/240 V, single-phase service.

Secondary of a single-phase transformer provides 240 V across A and B and 120 V across either A or B and the neutral
Figure 1 – Secondary of a single-phase transformer provides 240 V across A and B and 120 V across either A or B and the neutral

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a distribution transformer for 120/240 V single-phase service. The 240 V is obtained by making connections between the two ungrounded “hot” conductors, and the 120 V is obtained by making connections between either of the two “hot” ungrounded conductors and the neutral (grounded) conductor.

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Three-phase, four-wire, 120/208 V wye-connected

Different voltages can be obtained with three-phase, four-wire, 120/208-V wye-connected service, as illustrated in Figure 2.

A wye-connected, three-phase, four-wire secondary transformer can provide 120- and 208-V AC electric service
Figure 2 – A wye-connected, three-phase, four-wire secondary transformer can provide 120- and 208-V AC electric service

The terminal points of the three windings of a wye-connected transformer are designated A, B, and C. The voltage between any of the points A, B, and C and the neutral (grounded) conductor is 120 V, and the voltage between any two of the points A to B, B to C, or C to A is 208 V.

This 208 V is the product of the voltage between any phase and neutral (120 V) and the square root of 3 or 1.732 (120V x 1.732 = 208V).

Therefore,the following voltages can be obtained from the wye-connected system:

  • 120 V, single-phase, two-wire (A to neutral, B to neutral, and C to neutral)
  • 208 V, single-phase, two-wire (A to B, B to C, and C to A)
  • 208 V, three-phase, three-wire
  • 120/208 V, three-phase, four-wire

Another popular wye-connected three-phase, four-wire system is rated at 277/489 V. Feeder and branch circuits connected to this supply can provide:

  • 277 V, single phase, two-wire
  • 480 V, single-phase, two-wire
  • 480 V, three-phase, three-wire
  • 277/480 V, three-phase, four-wire

Go back to Configurations ↑


Three-phase, four-wire 120/240 V delta-connected

A different set of output voltages can be obtained with the three-phase, four-wire delta-connected transformer secondary as shown in the schematic Figure 2.

The three windings are connected in series to form an equilateral triangle or Greek letter ∆. Each of the vertices of the triangle is designated by a letter, A, B, or C, representing one of the three phases that feed the network. The midpoint of the winding between vertices B and C is grounded at neutral point N.

The voltage between any two vertices A to B, B to C, and C to A is 240 V. However, the voltage between B and neutral and C and neutral is 120 V, while the voltage between A and neutral is 208 V.

This 208 V is obtained by multiplying the 120 V between either C or B and neutral by the square root of 3 or 1.732 (120 V x 1.732 = 207.84, rounded off to 208 V).

Therefore, the following voltages can be obtained from the delta-connected system:

  • 120 V, single-phase, two-wire (B to neutral and C to neutral)
  • 240 V, single-phase, two-wire (A to B, B to C, and C to A)
  • 240 V, three-phase, three-wire
  • 120/208 V, three-phase, four-wire
A delta-connected, three-phase, four-wire secondary transformer can provide three output voltages: 120, 208, and 240 V AC
Figure 3 – A delta-connected, three-phase, four-wire secondary transformer can provide three output voltages: 120, 208, and 240 V AC

Caution is required when making connections to a three-phase, four-wire trans- former secondary because of the potential damage that can be caused by accidentally connecting the “high-leg”. A to neutral voltage where the lower voltage is desired.

NEC, Section 110.15, “Means of Identifying Conductor with the Higher Voltage to Ground,” states:

“On a 4-wire, delta-connected secondary where the midpoint of one phase winding is grounded to supply lighting and similar loads, the phase conductor having the higher voltage to ground shall be identified by an outer (insulation) finish that is orange in color or by tagging (or taping) or other effective means.”

The intent of this NEC precautionary requirement is prevent any connections from being made accidentally between A and ground and getting 208 V when the intent was to obtain 120 V from either B or C to ground. Thus the wire from A to ground would have orange insulation or be marked with orange tape or an orange tag.

Go back to Configurations ↑

Reference: Handbook of electrical design details // Second edition – Neil Sclater; John E. Traister (Purchase ebook)

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Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

10 Comments


  1. T.R. Elass
    Apr 22, 2021

    I think there is a typo in this sentence “Another popular wye-connected three-phase, four-wire system is rated at 277/489 V”
    ^^^
    Presume you meant to say 480 V.


  2. Priya
    Mar 01, 2018

    You said “Power leaves the substation on three, three-phase “hot” power lines that are strung adjacent to highways or along local roads to points of use. All three phases share a single neutral line and have the same voltage, but they are 120 electrical degrees out of phase with each other.”

    But what is the mechanism that we use to make the phases 120 degree out of phase ith each other. How is that Just by simply connecting in star and delta we are able to get that?

    Is there any special circuitry that makes them out of phase with each other like using triacs or diacs etc.?


    • Reid Womack
      May 15, 2023

      Priya, Most power is generated by rotating generators, steam, Hydro, etc. in 3 phase power there are three electrically separate magnetic pole winding sets. If these pole sets are physically located 120 degrees apart in the generators circle of rotation, then the resulting sinusoidal power in the three separate circuits will also be 120 degrees apart.


  3. Joao Baiao
    Feb 25, 2018

    Parabenizo este artigo com todos os diagramas ou projeto de redes, gosto muito de sistema de potência.


  4. Thomas hazlett
    Feb 02, 2018

    I concure with Renee that figure 3 is wrong and misleading. As it is drawn A to C phase should be 240V and A to neutral is 208V.


  5. hugo orellana llanos
    Mar 04, 2016

    i nned information of yours pulications


  6. Richard Sseruwagi
    Aug 25, 2015

    Greetings,
    I request to know whether its possible to run a 240Vac 60Hz 3 phase motor on a single phase 50Hz 240Vac power supply by using a single phase to 3 phase variable speed drive.


  7. robert rowe
    Jun 03, 2015

    It is not stated where (which country) this installation practice might apply – certainly NOT in Australia, and in particular where it implies that dual voltages are provided for domestic applications (High power, low power) which appears to be possibly quite a dangerous situation.


  8. Rene Ballard
    Jun 02, 2015

    There is an error in Figure 3.
    A 208 v potential is incorrectly labeled as 240.


    • Craig
      May 05, 2019

      Figure 3 is labelled correctly. The “wild” Leg of the delta 4 wire connection is 208 volt from the neutral to hot.

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