What more readily available in the world, "wye" or "delta"

[jchayes123]

I am wondering if it is more common to find a supply voltage in a "wye" configuration, or a "delta" configuration throughout the world. This would be a typical industrial service for a 100+ kilowatt water heater. It seems that the delta is more common in the states, but not sure for the rest of the world. If there are any websites that discuss this, I would appreciate the link.

Thanks

 

[alehman]

Wye connected systems are by far the most common, almost universal in new construction in the U.S.

In most cases a "delta" water heater can be connected to a "wye" system.

Alan
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"It’s always fun to do the impossible." - Walt Disney

 

[DRWeig]

JCHayes,

What's the concern whether the supply is wye or delta? If your three-phase heater is delta and the supply is wye, simply omit the neutral when wiring it up.

If there's something we're missing, let us know!

Good on ya,

Goober Dave

 

[jchayes123]

Thank you Dave and Alan for the responses. Yes I understand a delta can be connected to a wye but a wye cannot be connected to a delta. We offer a wye version of the heater and most installations we have dealt with do not have the nuetral line so we have to develop a delta version. So the information above is interesting as it would seem that a wye is more readily available and I see more delta. We will see if more people respond, especially from a global perspective.

 

[ScottyUK]

Wye, or 'star' over here in the old world, is commonplace. Occasionally our European cousins use a star system with the star point earthed, but don't bother distributing the neutral. That's typical an installation with primarily motor loads which don't need a neutral.



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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[DRWeig]

Often in the industrial setting, I see 480 available only in delta for the motor loads (service is delta), but a 208Y/120 transformer here and there for the lighting and receptacles. Some larger buildings are done that way too, but most often in the US, the designer will take advantage of the efficiency of 277V lighting too -- hence, a 480Y/277 service.

In the smaller commercial / institutional arena, almost everything is wye from the service entrance, though.

Just my experience...

Goober Dave

 

[waross]

Wye connected water heaters connected to a delta supply; No problem. Should one element burn out, the other two elements will go line to line in series. The output with one element burned out and the other two in series will be about 50%.

Bill
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"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[alehman]

It's also common in the U.S. for circuits originating from a 4-wire wye system to be run without the neutral for 3-wire loads (e.g. motors). Designers sometimes overlook the need for a neutral to some equipment items such as heaters.

If you're designing the heater, I think a 3-wire configuration is usually better to save the cost of running the neutral.

Alan
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"It’s always fun to do the impossible." - Walt Disney