You depend on electricity to do everything from heating your home and charging electronics to lighting the streets and powering businesses. Electrical currents originate from a service provider and flow through high-voltage wires into neighborhood transformers, where they’re reduced to suit a variety of residential or commercial properties. To learn more about the various types of electrical services, read the following guide.

3 Common Types of Electrical Services

1. Single-Phase Three-Wire System

This is the most common type of electrical service for residential homes in the United States. Also referred to as the Edison system, it delivers alternating current power in a single phase via two hot wires and one neutral wire. The neutral wire is bonded to the ground.

The voltage from either wire one or two to the neural line is 120 volts and is used for smaller, continuous electric loads, like lights and outlets. Wire one to two is 240V and powers major appliances like washer and dryers and hot water heaters.

2. Three-Phase Four-Wire Wye System

Three-phase configurations can support three times the amount of power of a single-phase system, which is why they’re the most frequently used electrical service for large commercial buildings.

The four-wire wye system delivers power over three hot wires and carries a neutral wire that allows for line-to-neutral (single-phase) and line-to-line (three-phase) connections. This system can power standard 120V loads for lighting and smaller appliances, as well as 277V and 480V loads for equipment such as large HVAC systems.

3. Three-Phase Three-Wire Delta System 

This configuration is used mostly in large industrial facilities to provide power for three-phase motor loads such as freight elevators and steelmaking furnaces. It consists of three hot wires and does not feature a neutral wire. Voltages range from 240 to 600 and higher.

If you need an electrical contractor, contact ABC Electric Company in Lincoln, NE. For more than 85 years, they’ve provided residential, commercial, and industrial electrical services, including indoor and outdoor lighting, residential wiring, and parking lot lighting. They also offer 24-hour emergency services and repairs. Visit their website for information about their offerings, and call (402) 435-3514 to speak with a skilled electrician today.