I just want to relate my experience with 3-phase installation in my new house. Instead of applying for 1-phase and later found that I need to upgrade to 3-phase, I want to install 3-phase from the start since I'll probably install 7 airconds and 4 water heaters.

Call up developer and they said my house is 3-phase ready i.e., just need to apply 3-phase from TNB. No other changes required. I called up TNB last week and they said I need to get an electrical contractor to apply for me, can't do it myself. The deposit is rm800 for 3-phase vs rm600 for single phase. Contacted the original electrical contractor for the housing project and paid rm200 fee for the application. End of story, so I thought.

Yesterday the contractor called me up and said my application has been successfully submitted and I need to change the DB to 3-phase since they provided only 1-phase DB for the project. I told them the developer said it is 3-phase ready and I don't need to change anything else but the contractor confirmed that it is just 1-phase DB as they are the one who install it for the project. Apparently only the meter panel/cutout is 3-phase ready and not the DB. Called up the developer again about it and now they said the same as what the contractor have just told me, outside from TNB is 3-phase ready but inside the house is 1-phase only.

For the same contractor to replace it for me, they would charge rm850. DB brand is Doebke from Germany. My total cost in installing 3-phase is now rm200 (application fee) + rm850 (DB change) + rm200 (TNB deposit differences) = rm1250. I'll plan pay in next couple of days. Do you guys think rm850 is fair price or I can get it cheaper from other electrical contractor?

What does it involved to wire from meter to your DB? Any underground work required ie. digging and hacking required? The cost depends on the amount of work.

That is quite a lot of work. Not sure it is worth rm1800 or not. Did the 2nd electrician gave you a quote as well?

When it is 3-phase ready, all wiring from TNB to the meter panel and cutout fuse would be 3-phase. If your meter panel is not for 3-phase, you have to change that as well. There should be no further charges except to increase your deposit. The additional cabling charge is for house that not 3-phase ready.

Forgot to answer the above question. Unfortunately I'm in Penang.

I asked my contractor and TnB before, no further charges...unless they want to spring me another surprise

Will update if I need to pay more once the connection is complete in next 1-2 weeks. The contractor will be changing my DB this weekend. After that I'll need to go and pay TNB deposit. My general contractor already told me that the developer is using cheap cable with single layer insulator instead of double insulator. Something I need to pay attention to when comparing quotations for my house renovation later.

My aquarium filter rated at 18W and cost me about rm4 per month in electricity. Those pumps for pond would cost much higher.

Here is my update thus far. The electrical contractor has replaced my ELCB and Main MCB with 3-phase version (EPS brand instead of Doepke), rewire for 3-phase and in fact removed 2 of my spare MCB to fit into the original box. They did not change the DB box. They also installed 2 additional cutout fuse at the meter panel. All that for rm850, I think it is a rip-off!! Call up the contractor again asking about the 2 missing MCB and missing Main MCB switch. The Main MCB is there but I could not locate the switch. I think it is hidden under the DB faceplate. She said she will ask another electrician to look into it.

I also asked her why the ELCB only shows 63A? She said she applied for 63A and not 100A. I told her if I just need 63A I would not change to 3-phase as it make no difference. Again she said she will check with TNB if still can change to 100A. Called up TNB again asking about diff between 1-phase 63A and 3-phase 63A and was told that 3-phase is better, more stable etc. Not the answer that I want. I think there is no difference as both provides same current. Anyone have different opinion on this?

Now back to waiting again.

Calculating for something that not consuming constant current such as the thermo-pot is quite tricky as it boil the water once in a while and keep the water hot most of the time. Generally rule of thumb for calculating electrical consumption as below.

kWH = W/0.85/1000*H*D*R

where
W = appliance wattage eg. 150Watt
0.85 = typical power factor
1000 = convert to kiloWatt (kW)
H = Hours of operating
D = Days in a month eg. 30 days
R = TNB rate rm0.30/kWH (1st 500 units) & rm0.39/kWH subsequent unit

So if you turn on TV rated at 75W for 4 hours daily for a month, you need to pay

75/0.85/1000*4*30*0.30 = rm3.18

Power factor can vary depending on what is connected to the circuit etc., and there is a device in the market that will improve your power factor, hence lower your electrical consumption.

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Added on January 2, 2009, 6:45 pmHere is another update on my 3-phase. Finally able to talk to an electrician from the electrical contractor. He told me my main switch is flush with the MCB body, hence I cannot see it. Will check it out when I visit my new house the next time. As for the 63A, he said it is 63A per phase, hence total is 63A x 3 phase = 190A and that is plenty for me. Not sure if he is bluffing. Anyone here know better?

He also said I would not able to apply for 100A as the TNB fuse setting and underground cable rating is just 63A per phase. If I insist on 100A, TNB need to pull new cable and I have to pay $$$$ for it. They are the housing project electrical contractor, so I tend to believe this. I think I'll let the matter rest for now.

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Added on January 6, 2009, 4:13 pmHow was your 3-phase connection coming along? Mine already confirmed need to pay rm1250 contribution to TNB Stupid thing is they don't allow me to pay my deposit together with the contribution. I'll have to make another trip to TNB later.

This post has been edited by kimyee73: Jan 6 2009, 04:13 PM