driefasig

Driefasig is the Dutch term for a three-phase electrical system or power supply. It uses three alternating current voltages that are equal in amplitude and shifted by 120 degrees. This arrangement provides smoother power delivery, better efficiency for transmission, and the ability to drive large motors and other heavy loads with less conductor material than single-phase systems.

An installation can be configured as star (wye) or delta. In a star connection, the three phase conductors meet at a common neutral point, allowing a neutral conductor to be provided and resulting in a line-to-neutral voltage lower than the line-to-line voltage. In Europe, typical values are 230 V line-to-neutral and 400 V line-to-line; in a delta connection, the windings are connected in a triangle, and there is generally no neutral.

Three-phase power enables higher total power with lower currents in the conductors, which reduces losses and conductor size. It also offers smoother torque for motors and allows efficient operation of both three-phase equipment and, with a neutral, some single-phase loads.Generators, transformers, and distribution networks are commonly designed for three-phase operation, making it the standard for industrial power and many large commercial installations.

Regional standards vary. In Europe, the common three-phase supply is 400 V line-to-line and 230 V line-to-neutral at 50 Hz. In the United States, typical values include 480 V line-to-line (277 V line-to-neutral) or 208 V line-to-line (120 V line-to-neutral) for different service configurations. The term driefasig thus denotes both the concept and the practical wiring schemes used in three-phase power systems.