From: gtaylor@tnetconsulting.net   
      
   Hi,   
      
   Would someone be kind enough to help me understand the difference   
   between a phase and lines?   
      
   I think that a phase is what is carried by a pair of wires, a circuit,   
   that consists of a two lines or a line and neutral (depending if it's ∆   
   or Y 3ɸ).  But I'm not sure and I've had trouble getting clarifying   
   answers.  So I figured that I'd ask here.   
      
   I've seen some people indicate that the line is the phase.  But I've   
   found those discussions / videos / explanations lacking in that they   
   don't indicate what the other half of the circuit is.   
      
   Similarly, am I correct in thinking that:   
      
     · Lines are labeled with letters; A, B, C, or colors; black, red, blue.   
     · Phases are labeled with the pair of letters; AB, BC, CA, or pairs of   
   colors; black red, red blue, blue black.  (Should that last pair be   
   "blue black" or "black blue"?)   
      
   Finally, are voltages normally discussed as in phase to neutral / phase   
   to phase?  E.g. 120/208 or 277/480?   
      
   Aside:  I'm a systems administrator by trade who's trying to learn a   
   little bit about the power in the data centers where the servers I   
   administer run.  Just personal education.  I'm leaving the actual   
   electrical work to the licensed electricians on staff.  I just like to   
   learn things.   
      
   Thank you for your time, and have a good day.   
      
      
      
   --   
   Grant. . . .   
   unix || die   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)