Balancing loads = lower power bill?

2076 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by AustinDB, May 4, 2014

dielectricunion

Discussion Starter · Apr 23, 2014

i know this is a pretty ignorant question, but how is it that keeping your loads balanced between hot legs (im thinking in terms of single phase) will lower your electrical usage and amount you pay for power? I thought that no matter which leg you pull power from, balanced or not, you still pay for the kwHs. Just wondering if someone could help me understand this concept. thanks!

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Golden view

· #2 · Apr 23, 2014

I reckon you heard some wrong information. Balancing loads is for other reasons.

I suppose a high usage, completely unbalanced load would have more voltage drop and thus more loss to heat through the drop.

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dielectricunion

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 23, 2014

Golden view said:
I reckon you heard some wrong information. Balancing loads is for other reasons.

I suppose a high usage, completely unbalanced load would have more voltage drop and thus more loss to heat through the drop.

Wrong information makes more sense to me, because I can't understand how balanced single phase loads vs unbalanced would affect usage/charges - aside from what you say about power lost through heat.

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JBrzoz00

· #4 · Apr 26, 2014

Balancing loads wont have any effect on power bill. However oversizing the wire for large loads will. Using say a #4 for heat strips that would generally require a #8.

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AustinDB

· #5 · May 4, 2014

I had 3 phase service at an office many years ago and if I recall correctly, imbalanced loads and peak times of service resulted in higher charges-all information the power company's meter determined.

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