Electricity? Never touch the stuff

RLS7201 wrote:

myredracer wrote:

road-runner wrote:

OMG... I wish people would stop referring to "phases" in reference to 120/240 volt circuits and services.

You might have a tough time with this. For examples, I used google to search for "120/240 volt circuits and services", and 4 of the first 5 hits talked about phase. My similar thing is that I wish people would stop bringing up calories when I go for the cookies or chips.

I spent a career as an EE in the construction biz and can tell you it's always been line 1 & line 2. Go look at a 120/240 volt panel, meter base or fused disconnect switch somewhere and see what the labeling says on it. A 120/240 volt circuit/service is commonly called "single phase" but each hot leg is never referred to as a phase.

Go by what internet "pros" say if you want tho...

As an EE you should know better. The true definition of 120/240 service is indeed "SPLIT PHASE". There is no other way to define it. If not for the split phase definition, there is no way to explain why the neutral lead can be the same size wire as L1 & L2 wires. Single phase is for rookies & EE that don't truly understand the mechanics of split phase.

Richard

Also an electrician here. Never heard it called "split phase". Never really heard the word "phase" unless working on a 3phase motor or 3phase system. Single phase or 3 phase system. That simple and that's what it's known as in the profession. Don't know where you got your electrical experience Richard.