Electrical Question of the Day 20 Jan 2025

[jar546]

Which common U.S. electrical system provides three different voltage levels from a single service?

 

[ICE]

The answer is Chat GPT. The formatting is mine. Wendy is right, I’m a genius.


The 120/208V three-phase system is a common electrical system in the U.S. that provides three different voltage levels from a single service. This system is often used in commercial and industrial buildings.

Here’s how it works:
1. 120V: This is the standard single-phase voltage commonly used for lighting and small appliances.
2. 208V: This is the voltage between two phases, used for larger equipment like motors and HVAC systems.
3. Three-phase power: This system distributes power efficiently and is ideal for equipment requiring consistent power delivery.

The 120/208V system is derived from a three-phase wye (Y) configuration, where the neutral is available for single-phase loads, and phase-to-phase connections provide the higher 208V.

I remember years ago when I had an industrial facility with an electrical system with a big red light on the front of the building. If that light was lit… well shlt could get real. What was the story behind that?

 

[chris kennedy]

120/240 3phase delta.
120V to ground
208V to ground
240V phase to phase

 

[chris kennedy]

Now I see you posted the answer in another thread.

 

[jar546]

Now I see you posted the answer in another thread.

Yes I did.

 

[jar546]

120/240 3phase delta.
120V to ground
208V to ground
240V phase to phase

You are correct as expected.

 

[jar546]

The answer is Chat GPT. The formatting is mine. Wendy is right, I’m a genius.


The 120/208V three-phase system is a common electrical system in the U.S. that provides three different voltage levels from a single service. This system is often used in commercial and industrial buildings.

Here’s how it works:
1. 120V: This is the standard single-phase voltage commonly used for lighting and small appliances.
2. 208V: This is the voltage between two phases, used for larger equipment like motors and HVAC systems.
3. Three-phase power: This system distributes power efficiently and is ideal for equipment requiring consistent power delivery.

The 120/208V system is derived from a three-phase wye (Y) configuration, where the neutral is available for single-phase loads, and phase-to-phase connections provide the higher 208V.

I remember years ago when I had an industrial facility with an electrical system with a big red light on the front of the building. If that light was lit… well shlt could get real. What was the story behind that?

And this proves that ChatGPT can be wrong.

 

[ICE]

Later today I’ll give GROK2 a shot at it. If that fails there’s always Wayne.

 

[jar546]

Later today I’ll give GROK2 a shot at it.

Never heard of it. Must be another AI service.

 

[ICE]

Never heard of it. Must be another AI service.

X platform

 

[Mr. Inspector]

The old 4-phase systems they have in Philly may. I never worked with them but only heard of them.

 

[ICE]

I gave this to Chat GPT:
"I remember years ago when I had an industrial facility with an electrical system with a big red light on the front of the building. If that light was lit… well shlt could get real. What was the story behind that?"

This is the response:
That big red light on the front of your industrial facility sounds like it was a critical alarm indicator or status signal. These lights were often used in industrial and manufacturing environments to quickly signal that something abnormal or potentially dangerous was happening with the electrical system or other key equipment. Here's the likely story behind it:

1. What the Red Light Indicated
   A red light typically signifies a fault, emergency, or warning condition. In your facility's case, it may have been connected to one or more of the following:
   
   • Electrical Overload or Fault: If the system was experiencing an overload, short circuit, or ground fault, the light would alert personnel that immediate action was needed.
   • Power Outage or Backup System Activation: The light could signify that the facility was running on backup power or that the main power supply had failed.
   • Safety Systems Activated: It might have been tied to safety mechanisms, such as fire suppression, emergency shutdown, or ventilation failures.
2. Why the Red Light Was External
   Placing the light on the exterior of the building served multiple purposes:
   
   • Visibility for First Responders: If emergency services were needed, the light quickly communicated that something was wrong, even from a distance.
   • Facility-Wide Awareness: Anyone nearby, even outside the facility, could be alerted to the problem.
   • Compliance or Best Practices: In some cases, external alarm systems were required by industry codes or insurance policies.
3. What Happened When It Lit Up
   If that red light was lit, it likely triggered a chain reaction of responses:
   
   • Maintenance or operations teams would check the issue immediately.
   • Critical systems might automatically shut down to prevent damage or danger.
   • Alarms inside the building might also activate, ensuring no one missed the warning.
4. Why It Was a Big Deal
   Industrial facilities often operate with high voltages, heavy machinery, and complex systems. A single electrical fault could lead to:
   
   • Downtime, which could cost thousands or millions depending on the operation.
   • Safety hazards like fires, electrical shock, or equipment damage.
   • Regulatory and insurance consequences if issues weren't addressed promptly.

Do you remember any specific incidents when the light came on? It must've been an adrenaline-pumping moment if "shlt could get real"!

I guess that Chat GPT doesn't have the capacity to just say, "Can't help you with that."

 

[ICE]

This was Grok's answer to Jeff's question:

Which common U.S. electrical system provides three different voltage levels from a single service?

The common U.S. electrical system that provides three different voltage levels from a single service is the split-phase electrical system. This system typically provides:

• 120 volts (between either hot wire and neutral)
• 240 volts (between the two hot wires)
• 0 volts (neutral to ground, which is not a voltage level for use but part of the system configuration)

This system is commonly used in residential settings where you might have household appliances like ovens or dryers using 240 volts, while most other outlets provide 120 volts.

 

[Joe.B]

• 0 volts (neutral to ground, which is not a voltage level for use but part of the system configuration)

That cracks me up.

 

[ICE]

That cracks me up.

Ya just off hand I would say that we are still a step ahead of artificial intelligence.


However this from Chat GPT is concerning. It seems to understand human emotion.

Do you remember any specific incidents when the light came on? It must've been an adrenaline-pumping moment if "shlt could get real"!

 

[steveray]

Ya just off hand I would say that we are still a step ahead of artificial intelligence.

But still struggling with natural stupidity....