On Oct 24, 11:11*am, 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?

Being able to add to numbers* doesn't mean reality works that way.

[snip]

* - Actually, that's incorrect too. The addends are out of phase, so
200 + 200 = 0.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

No they are NOT 'out of phase' the two 240 'ends' are the opposite
ends of a single phase 240v winding of the distribution transformer!
they are often incorrectly referred to as 'phases. but are actually
Leg A and leg B. And when on of them is +ve the other leg is -ve with
respect to it.
The neutral is the centre tap of that distribution transformer
winding.