Does a 200 amp 3 phase service equal a total of 600 amps?

Is a 200 amp 3-phase service equivalent to a total of 600 amps?

No, a 200 amp 3-phase service does not equal a total of 600 amps. In a 3-phase electrical system, the total current is distributed across the three phases. Each phase carries a portion of the total current. In a balanced 3-phase system, the line current is equal to the phase current. In this case, a 200 amp 3-phase service means that each phase can carry a maximum of 200 amps. The total current in the system would be the sum of the currents in each phase. Therefore, the total current in a 200 amp 3-phase service would be 200 amps, not 600 amps.

Understanding 3-Phase Electrical System

In a 3-phase electrical system, the power is distributed through three conductors, instead of the single phase as commonly found in household electrical systems. Each of these conductors carries an alternating current signal with a phase difference of 120 degrees between them.

Phase and Line Current

Each phase carries a portion of the total current. The total current in a balanced 3-phase system can be calculated by summing the currents flowing through each phase. In a balanced system, the line current is equal to the phase current. This means that the total current is evenly divided among the three phases.

200 Amp 3-Phase Service

In the case of a 200 amp 3-phase service, it means that each phase can handle a maximum current of 200 amps. Therefore, the total current that can be carried in a 200 amp 3-phase service would be 200 amps, not 600 amps as each phase contributes to the total current load.