Getting 240V from One Leg (L1) – Power and Phase Explanation

acphasepower

A neighbor lost his L2 connection to his house. The symptoms were as expected. Fifty percent of the lights and outlets did not work and all his 240V appliances (AC, fryer) did not work. The utility company Xcel came out and installed a "black box" that gave him back his 120V to the entire house.

What I figured they did was they disconnected L2 and just added a jumper from L1. This would mean he would have 120V throughout the house, but not 240V.

Nope, he had AC and he showed me the box they attached to the meter.

So, I am wondering what this black (yellow) box is.

Somehow Xcel created a second 120V out of phase 180-degree L2.

I can only think of two ways.

  1. The are using the 120V and a VFD to create L1 0-degree and L2 180-degree.
  2. The box has two transformers. Convert 120V to 60V with a center tap ground and then convert the 60V L1 and L2 up to 120V.

If you know what is in the "black box" can you include a link so I can find out more about this?

Best Answer

schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

Figure 1. Two possible solutions using off-the-shelf transformers.

  • (a) shows a single-phase transformer connected so that the output is out-of-phase with the input. (Note the dots on the primary and secondary coils.) This produces 120 V between each phase and neutral and 240 V between phases.
  • (b) shows a similar solution using a centre-tapped transformer which may or may not have a secondary winding (which isn't required). Here voltage on the top half of the transformer induces a voltage on the bottom half.

Note that L1 will have to supply twice the current. This will result in some voltage drop and heating of the supply line but is probably deemed OK for a temporary fix.


I don't see how (b) would change the phase to create L2 by simply running it through a primary coil with a center tap.

schematic

simulate this circuit

Figure 2. (a) The original again and (b) the same circuit rearranged.

If you're willing to believe that Figure 1a or 2a works then have a look at 2b. Here I've just taken the secondary coil and moved it round to the "primary side" of the schematic representation. On the real transformer they're still on the same core and nothing has changed.

The reason it works is that the P winding is energised by L1-N and the S winding is energised by transformer action. It is important that the phasing is maintained - note the dots on XFMR1 which show the relationship between the voltages. If we swap the secondary winding orientation then L2 would be in phase with L1 and you'd have L1-N = 120 V and L2-N = 120 V but L1-L2 = 0 V.