3 phase electricity installation

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radicool

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Does anybody know what it costs to get 3-phase electrical supply installed (i.e. "upgrade" from 1 phase to 3 phase) from City Power in Johannesburg. I'm hearing costs between R8000 and R50000, and nobody seems sure. I've already laid all the cables and entry points, so they literally just have to connect it up to the box outside my house!
 
3 Phase <=80 Amp (New meter box and new cable to be provided on the boundary)

Connection R13 000.00
Capacity fee R36 300.00
Total ex vat R49 300.00
Inc vat R56 202.00

2016-2017 tariff so probably a bit more than that in reality. Source, city power web site
 
Be prepared to go from pillar to post with this.

Fortunately we dealt with Eskom directly, and specified 3-phase as initial installation, it will be easier to run single phase from this than having a single phase install and wanting to upgrade to 3-phase later.
 
Sinbad said:
3 Phase <=80 Amp (New meter box and new cable to be provided on the boundary)

Connection R13 000.00
Capacity fee R36 300.00
Total ex vat R49 300.00
Inc vat R56 202.00

2016-2017 tariff so probably a bit more than that in reality. Source, city power web site
Click to expand...

Sounds about right. We have more or less the same, but being direct from Eskom, it works out a bit cheaper, but still ouch.

Investment.
 
Also, this is probably more relevant but almost the same...
Increase of supply, single phase to 3 phase

Single Phase to Three 3 Phase <= 80 A
Connection R13 600.00
Capacity charge R36 300.00
total ex vat R49 900.00
total inc R56 886.00
 
Sinbad said:
Also, this is probably more relevant but almost the same...
Increase of supply, single phase to 3 phase

Single Phase to Three 3 Phase <= 80 A
Connection R13 600.00
Capacity charge R36 300.00
total ex vat R49 900.00
total inc R56 886.00
Click to expand...

Ah ja, this will be more relevant as it will be an upgrade from single phase to three phase.

A word of caution - test and re-test EVERYTHING, get a qualified sparky if you need to (and document it), because if City Power connects you up, and something pops on City Power's side, you'll be liable for damages....
 
Why would you want to switch to three phase anyway, unless you're running specialised equipment?
People should be moving away from electricity supply, rather than increasing imho
 
Sinbad said:
Why would you want to switch to three phase anyway, unless you're running specialised equipment?
People should be moving away from electricity supply, rather than increasing imho
Click to expand...

Pool pump, a "proper" electric oven, house extensions, renovations, buildings for rent / garages / selling etc.
 
Sinbad said:
Why would you want to switch to three phase anyway, unless you're running specialised equipment?
People should be moving away from electricity supply, rather than increasing imho
Click to expand...

one 60 amps across the 3 phases which means you can have a total load of 180 amps...houses which have jacuzzi...pool...ducted aircons...etc etc...which use more than 80 amps need 3 phase power...they will not give you more than 80 amps single phase.
 
blowdart18 said:
one 60 amps across the 3 phases which means you can have a total load of 180 amps...houses which have jacuzzi...pool...ducted aircons...etc etc...which use more than 80 amps need 3 phase power...they will not give you more than 80 amps single phase.
Click to expand...

Erm... not that simple I am afraid. 60 amps breaker on each line does not mean 60 amps per phase. Infact it is by a ratio of I_line=(3^.5)I_phase :)
 
Having 3 phase in my apartment meant I could install a whole house instant water heater of 21kW (± 92 amps total draw). Drastically reduced my power consumption per month.

3 phase is definitely the way to go. You installation options are much better. But I'm not sure I would pay R50k for that "privilege"
 
Just a question on 3 phase prepaid metering, I am basically running unbalanced with geyser and spa on one phase, aircon and oven on the other and all plugs/lights on the other.

Am I penalized for being unbalanced, or is the meter just measuring kwh per phase and adding it up?
 
Gnome said:
Having 3 phase in my apartment meant I could install a whole house instant water heater of 21kW (± 92 amps total draw). Drastically reduced my power consumption per month.
Click to expand...

If you want to save money heating water then rather get a solar water heater.
Let the sun do the heating instead of your wallet.

If one aims to use such high amounts of peak power then it also makes going off-grid too expensive.
Also what would you do if there was a blackout for a week? Use a 30 kW generator to run the instant water heater? :oops:
 
aquadat0r said:
Just a question on 3 phase prepaid metering, I am basically running unbalanced with geyser and spa on one phase, aircon and oven on the other and all plugs/lights on the other.

Am I penalized for being unbalanced, or is the meter just measuring kwh per phase and adding it up?
Click to expand...

Balancing the phases is always a good idea as it reduces the risk of one phase tripping the entire supply. Not absolutely essential for low loads. look at your bill to see how the charges are working. The 3 phases are normally measured independently and shown as three lines on the account. You might find you are paying different rates for each phase as a result of the inbalance.
 
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