Tri Phase electrical system?

Question

Does anyone knows, in plain language, how a tri phase electrical system works and what is it? Benefits and Disavantages? (for residential cases)

Answer 1

You mean 3 phase?

Not too useful for residential use, which is why you rarely see a residence wired with 3 phase.

But industry uses it a lot. Motors are more efficient and work better with 3 phase power. It also works better in AC-DC conversion, as the overlapping phases generate a lot less ripple.

It consists of 3 different wires, each with a voltage 120 degrees out of phase with the other two.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-phase