Can you connect two phases together?

Answer 1

Please do not attempt to connect 2 phase wires together. You will most likely blow up your house, transformer and local substation. You will be charged a hefty fine, or sued for damage to the transformer, cables and substation which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

If you are using 3 phase, each of the 3 phases are 120 degrees different from each other and can only be used for 3 phase industrial appliances and machines. You can however balance your current load between the 3 different phases by using each of the phases in conjunction with Neutral and/or Ground.

Please contact a qualified electrician where 3 phase is concerned, as you can kill yourself instantly if 2 of those wires make contact. Your neighbours will think you're lighting fireworks by the likes of the multi coloured sparks, bangs and explosions. And the entire neighbourhood will most likely be without electricity until the power company can find and fix the problem you would have created.

AnswerPresumably, you mean 'lines', not 'phases'? The conductors are called 'lines'; 'phases' are the loads connected between line conductors.

Most residential buildings are provided with a single-phase supply, comprising (in Europe) a single line conductor and a neutral conductor or (in North America) two line conductors and a neutral conductor. If you directly connect a line and neutral conductor together, or two line conductors together, the resulting short circuit will cause the circuit's protective device (fuse or circuit breaker) to operate and immediately disconnect the supply -you will most certainly not 'blow up' your house, entertain your neighbours to a 'firework display', damage the supply transformer, or disconnect your neighbours! And you will notbe fined, either!

Having said all of this, you shouldn't get into the habit of connecting any pair of conductors together for the sake of your own safety!!!