MrWizard wrote:
you can call 120v, 'split phase',
the 'key' phrase component, is the power companies only use a max of 3 phases
and 240v is considered 'single phase', by the power companies and government bodies
there is NO 120v drop/install from a utility power company
120v is 1/2 of a 240v single phase line
I meant the name for each of the 2 different halves of the 240V or at least a way to distinguish them. What is the proper term? Legs? Polarities? There are 2 kinds of these 120V supplies in the panel and there has to be some way to refer to the different ones. How else can you balance 120V loads in a panel if both sides are just called “split phase”? “Hey Bob, connect the front AC to the split phase and the rear one to the split phase” doesn’t work.
This whole thread started because there’s the possibility of connecting the “wrong” 120V to one side of the 50A receptacle.
I’m a EE and I understand what is actually happening with the electricity, including 3-phase delta and wye systems. I’m just wondering what those in the industry call these things.
Are they referred to as different halves of the phase as in, “these are both on the same half of the phase?”
