Single or three-phase power?
Three-phase power, the most efficient way to distribute power over long distances, allows for large industrial equipment to operate more efficiently. It’s characterized by three single-phase waves that are offset in their phase angle by 120 degrees, or one-third of the sine wave period as illustrated in Figure 1.

Three-phase voltage can be measured from each phase to neutral or from one phase to any other. The voltage relation between phase-to-neutral and phase-to-phase is a factor of the square root of three (e.g., 120V versus 208V).
Conversely, single-phase power is distributed through common household outlets to power everyday equipment such as laptops, lighting and televisions. When looking at an oscilloscope image of the voltage coming out of a single-phase outlet as illustrated in Figure 2, there’s only a single wave. Single-phase power is obtained by simply using only one phase of a three-phase system. Its root mean square (RMS) voltage is 120V (for North America) and it oscillates between its peaks of ±170V at 60 Hz (or 60 times a second).

Single-phase or three-phase power?
Single-phase advantages | Three-phase advantages |
---|---|
The standard for locations where three-phase power is unavailable. | Can help balance the loads on the utility power of the building. |
Usually easier to distribute power in low kVA and low-density applications. | Usually easier to distribute power in higher kVA and high density rack applications. |
Allows for smaller amperage electrical devices within the solution (breakers, wiring, panels, etc.). |
Product List

- PC, Workstation & Home AV UPS
- Eaton 3S (550-700 VA)
- Eaton Ellipse ECO (500-1600VA)
- Eaton 5E (500-2000VA)
- Eaton 5S (550 - 1500VA)
- Network & Server
- Eaton 5P (650-1550 VA)
- Eaton 5130 (1250-3000 VA)
- Eaton 5PX (1500-3000 VA)
- Eaton 9130 (700-6000 VA)
- Eaton 9130 RM (1000-3000 VA)
- Eaton EX (700-3000 VA)
- E Series DX (1-3 kVA)
- Eaton 9SX (5-6 kVA)
- Eaton 9PX (1-3 kVA)
- Eaton 9PX (5-11 kVA)
- Eaton 9E (6-20 kVA)
- Eaton MX (4-20 kVA)
- Eaton 9155 (8-30 KVA)
- Data Center & Facility UPS
- BladeUPS (12-60 kW)
- E Series DX ( 20-40 kVA)
- Eaton 9355 (8-40 kVA)
- Eaton 93E (15-500 kVA)
- Eaton 93PM (30-200 kW)
- Eaton 93PR (25-200 kW)
- Eaton 9390 (40-160 kVA)
- Power Xpert 9395 (225-1100 kVA)
- Marine & Offshore UPS
- Eaton 9130 Marine (1000-3000 VA)
- Eaton 9PX Marine (1500-3000 VA)
- Eaton EX Marine (1500-3000 VA)
- Eaton 9155 Marine (8-30 kVA)
- Eaton 9355 Marine (8-40 kVA)
- Power Xpert 9395 Marine (225-1100 kVA)
- DC Power