Need help with 3 phase

Anybody know much about electrical, more importantly 3 phase?

It's a 100 amp 3 phase - 4 wire 250v.

I'm confused here, some sites are saying that 3 phase makes it 2x-3x the amperage.

Can anyone with experience fill me in?

How many total amps at 240v do I have available?

each phase can handle total amperage of the panel BUUTTTT you can only fill the panel to 80% its capaity.
so if its a 100 amp panel Single or Three phase/240V you are only good for 80 amps...REGARDLESS!!!
not 160 or 240 amps...
Hope this helps.

Still not understanding. I read through and it's telling l me I have 3 live wires and 1 neutral. Sites are saying that this mediates the loads of motor and things like that. I'm trying to figure out the constant drain I can have on the system at 240v ballasts.

gb123 said:

each phase can handle total amperage of the panel BUUTTTT you can only fill the panel to 80% its capaity.
so if its a 100 amp panel Single or Three phase/240V you are only good for 80 amps...REGARDLESS!!!
not 160 or 240 amps...
Hope this helps.

Click to expand...

Each phase can handle total amps (100) but can't handle all at once...what am I missing here?

You have three lives wires and a neutral yeup!

the panel is rated for a certain amount of Amps... Its that simple.
To say you have more when you CANT USE IT WOULD BE WRONG

bigmanc said:

Each phase can handle total amps (100) but can't handle all at once...what am I missing here?

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all at once would be 300 amps on a panel rated for 100 and you are only allowed to use 80% of that....get it now?

bigmanc said:

Anybody know much about electrical, more importantly 3 phase?

It's a 100 amp 3 phase - 4 wire 250v.

I'm confused here, some sites are saying that 3 phase makes it 2x-3x the amperage.

Can anyone with experience fill me in?

How many total amps at 240v do I have available?

Click to expand...

An amp is an amp (current) . If your panel is 100 amp, you have 80 amps avaiable. For example your Gavita lights @120v take 8ish amps, @ 240v they take 4+amps. Essentially doubling the amount of fixtures per circuit. 3 phase is for mostly commercial/industrial needs, it's needed to run large loads A/C's, large motors. etc.

Itsme.

bigmanc said:

Still not understanding. I read through and it's telling l me I have 3 live wires and 1 neutral. Sites are saying that this mediates the loads of motor and things like that. I'm trying to figure out the constant drain I can have on the system at 240v ballasts.

Click to expand...

how many lights and what do they draw at the voltage you want to use?

Want a number for a electrician that can answer your questions?

itsmehigh said:

An amp is an amp (current) . If your panel is 100 amp, you have 80 amps avaiable. For example your Gavita lights @120v take 8ish amps, @ 240v they take 4+amps. Essentially doubling the amount of fixtures per circuit. 3 phase is for mostly commercial/industrial needs, it's needed to run large loads A/C's, large motors. etc.

Itsme.

Click to expand...

Thanks, thats the simple answer i was looking for.

gb123 said:

how many lights and what do they draw at the voltage you want to use?

Click to expand...

Im hoping for 16 with a 5 ton.

16 gavita at 1000w on 240v

redi jedi said:

Want a number for a electrician that can answer your questions?

Click to expand...

Yeah send me it can always use a sparky in the loop, thanks

Odds are il have to get a 200amp upgrade from the electrical room to my unit, wait until electrical authority inspects and go from there.

bigmanc said:

Thanks, thats the simple answer i was looking for.


Im hoping for 16 with a 5 ton.

16 gavita at 1000w on 240v


Yeah send me it can always use a sparky in the loop, thanks

Click to expand...

Those Gavita are a hot little number, you can count on them requiring 4000btu to cool each of them. Roughly 12,000btu per ton, so 1 ton per 3 lights. You running a flip flop? Or you need cooling for 16 lights? Nice not to run your AC to capacity, no wiggle room if you miss calculated, better to over cool than over heat......

Itsme.

itsmehigh said:

Those Gavita are a hot little number, you can count on them requiring 4000btu to cool each of them. Roughly 12,000btu per ton, so 1 ton per 3 lights. You running a flip flop? Or you need cooling for 16 lights? Nice not to run your AC to capacity, no wiggle room if you miss calculated, better to over cool than over heat....




Itsme.

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Roughly a 5 ton AC will gobble up 17kw and 70ish amps. The same as 16 lights.....

bigmanc said:

Odds are il have to get a 200amp upgrade from the electrical room to my unit, wait until electrical authority inspects and go from there.

Click to expand...

You probably have more power than you think...I have 600v 3ph power at my unit(only 60amps)...the electrician added another stepdown transformer just for my lights and everything else runs off the existing panel. I pm'd you the number

redi jedi said:

You probably have more power than you think...I have 600v 3ph power at my unit(only 60amps)...the electrician added another stepdown transformer just for my lights and everything else runs off the existing panel. I pm'd you the number

Click to expand...

I think your right. Some threads ive seen have done the same. Problem is im already at 250v and theres nothing to step down too to expend my amps.

itsmehigh said:

Roughly a 5 ton AC will gobble up 17kw and 70ish amps. The same as 16 lights.....

Click to expand...

Its a 2 flower room project. Il use whatever lights maximize my space (DE or SE 1000w) hoping for 16kw each room with 4kw veg. I have a 5 ton but ive been eyeing the excel air 2 room damper setup they have. Each room will have 10-12ft ceiling height. I think it would be easier to run 1 unit 24hr then manage electrical setup, ac setup and timers...i am worried about it being stressed though. il place the condensing units ontop of the rooms in each corner.

Now i know what i want, i need to find a way to get there. Location found.

itsmehigh said:

An amp is an amp (current) . If your panel is 100 amp, you have 80 amps avaiable. For example your Gavita lights @120v take 8ish amps, @ 240v they take 4+amps. Essentially doubling the amount of fixtures per circuit. 3 phase is for mostly commercial/industrial needs, it's needed to run large loads A/C's, large motors. etc.

Itsme.

Click to expand...

Great thread, been wondering myself for a while now how this works.

Thx for the info itsmehigh.