In article , Gary H wrote:
On Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:54:26 GMT, (Doug Miller)
wrote:
In article
,
wrote:
On Oct 22, 4:10=A0pm, (Doug Miller) wrote:
In article =
..com, wrote:
Aside from the 80% rule,
Which doesn't apply...
you can't get 400 amps out of a 200amp service.
Of course you can; it just depends on which circuits are in use. If you're
using only 120V circuits, you can get 200A on *each* leg. 200A @ 240V is
the
same power as 400A @120V.
Yes but physically, a current of 200 amps is all that is actually
flowing. Put a meter on it and you will measure 200 amps, not 400.
It's a simple matter of Kirchoffs law.
200 amps on _each leg_. It's a total of (up to) 400 amps at 120V.
200A on each leg. Where's the 400A?
200A @ 120V on leg 1, 200A @ 120V on leg 2.
Being able to add to numbers* doesn't mean reality works that way.
Actually, it does.
[snip]
* - Actually, that's incorrect too. The addends are out of phase, so
200 + 200 = 0.
Oh, you mean that if both legs are fully loaded, there's no current being
drawn at all?
Sorry, but you don't understand. The current in the neutral is in fact zero,
if both legs are loaded exactly equally -- and if all the loads supplied are
120V loads, then it is in fact drawing 400A @ 120V.