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From: Martin Brown <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design
Subject: Re: energy in UK
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2025 19:53:29 +0100
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On 18/04/2025 17:46, Joe Gwinn wrote:
> On Fri, 18 Apr 2025 09:19:54 +0100, Martin Brown
> <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> wrote:
> 
>> Where I live in a rural backwater the mains is actually more like US
>> style two phase and neutral rather than normal UK 3 phase. This is a
>> sore point with businesses that would like to use 3 phase equipment.
>> Each village is across one pair of the 3 phase distribution line with a
>> transformer ratio to give 240v output.
> 
> The "US style two phase and neutral" is not actually two phases (at 90
> degrees), it's single phase from a center-tapped transformer, with the
> center tap grounded to neutral (white wire in US).  This is not the
> safety ground (green wire in US).

Yes. It is exactly the same as you describe in my village single phase 
centre tapped. Referred to here as two phase. Three phase is the norm.

We have two anti-phase mains supplies that have been transformed down 
from a transformer that spans A-B live phases on an ABC delta. Next 
village along will be on B-C and then C-A in a cyclic pattern.
>> Traditional way in the UK is a copper nail through the cables on the
>> wrong side of the meter. A method beloved of illegal cannabis farms.
> 
> Yes.  There are two reasons.  The first is of course to reduce the
> electric bill.  But far more important is to prevent detection by
> looking for unusually high electric bills.

These days they find them by drone thermal imaging.

> Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer sales are monitored for a similar reason.

We had other reasons to monitor it carefully. Bulk ANFO is a powerful 
explosive if you have a stick of dynamite and a detonator.

-- 
Martin Brown