Three phase electrician in Aberdeen and North East Scotland
We install and alter three phase boards, sub mains and machinery circuits, and wire the board side of an SSEN supply upgrade, for workshops, farms, commercial kitchens and 22kW chargers from Aberdeen to Peterhead. Every job is a fixed price to a written scope after a free site survey, with the written quote usually within one working day, and small works on an existing installation are priced in writing before any work starts. Call 07304 027013.
OZEV authorised installer EVHS/WCS14254. Steven Watt holds City and Guilds 2391-52 inspection and testing, 2382-22 BS 7671, 2365-03 installations and 2921-34 EV charging. Registered in Scotland SC821028.
What a three phase electrician does, and why the supply matters
A three phase electrician designs, installs, connects and tests installations fed by a three phase supply: the incoming board, the sub mains to other boards and buildings, and the circuits to motors, ovens, chargers and plant. A three phase supply has three live conductors, L1, L2 and L3, each at 230V to neutral and 400V between phases, so the same fuse rating carries about three times the power.
Our own team does the work, led by Steven Watt with Callum working alongside him, under NICEIC enrolment 620239, from our base at 17 Thomson Road in Peterhead. Three phase work is one part of what we do as a commercial electrician in Aberdeen and across Aberdeenshire, and this page covers it in the depth the job needs.
Who needs a three phase supply in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Three phase is needed when equipment is only made in three phase, or when the total load has outgrown what a single phase supply can carry. These are the premises we are asked about most, and what we do in each.
Workshops and engineering units
Lathes, mills, compressors, welders and extraction are mostly three phase. Adding a machine to a unit already near its limit is the commonest reason a business calls us.
We add the circuit, the local isolator and the protection, and check the board and supply can carry the new load before the machine arrives.
Farms and steadings
Grain dryers, water pumps, workshops and cold stores often run on three phase, with long sub mains between buildings and overhead supplies that bring their own earthing questions.
We work to Section 705 of BS 7671 for agricultural premises. Around Fraserburgh, our commercial electrician in Fraserburgh page covers farm work too, and a three phase roof can also take a larger array through our solar panel installation in Aberdeenshire.
Commercial kitchens
Combination ovens, fryers, dishwashers, extraction and refrigeration add up fast, and many larger catering appliances are made for three phase only.
We spread the kitchen across the three phases, fit isolation the chef can reach, and agree the changeover time with you, within our opening hours.
22kW and multiple EV chargers
A 22kW charger needs three phase, and several 7kW chargers on one site soon add up to a three phase load. SSEN lists car park chargers among the reasons commercial sites upgrade.
Our commercial EV charger installation covers the chargers, the load management and the Workplace Charging Scheme claim; we do the board and sub main side here.
Lifts, hoists, pumps and large motors
Above a few kilowatts, motors are far easier to start and run on three phase. Lifts, roller doors, hoists and booster pumps usually come specified that way.
We provide the supply, the isolator and the circuit to the equipment supplier's specification, then test and certify it.
Large homes and heat pumps
Most homes are single phase. Some larger country houses and farmhouses have three phase, and SSEN lists heat pumps and large motors among the reasons homes apply to upgrade.
Before you apply, we check whether a bigger single phase main fuse or load management would do the job, because that costs far less.
Adding a machine, an oven or a charger?
Tell us what is arriving and where. We check the supply and the board at a free site survey across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, then send a fixed price in writing.
How to get a three phase supply or upgrade from SSEN
In the north of Scotland the network belongs to SSEN, so a new or upgraded three phase supply is applied for by you, or whoever manages the project, and SSEN sets the price and the date. Our job is the load figure that goes in the application and everything on your side of the meter.
- Work out the load. SSEN asks commercial applicants for the kVA they need. We measure what the building draws now, add what is coming and give you the figure in writing, so the application is neither guessed nor oversized.
- Apply to SSEN online. SSEN says the form takes about 15 minutes. You do not commit to anything by applying.
- Get SSEN's design and quote. A quoter contacts you within 5 working days and quotes are usually issued within 5 to 15 working days. The quote is free and valid for 90 days.
- Accept, pay and wait for a date. SSEN aims to start within 4 weeks of payment, or 6 to 8 weeks on average where land rights or council permits are needed. Your energy supplier then updates the meter.
- We fit the board side. A new three phase board, the connection from the meter, sub mains and the circuits to your equipment, tested and certified, timed to SSEN's date so you are not left without power for longer than the changeover.
Up to 69kVA or more? SSEN says most homes and small businesses can move from single phase to three phase up to 69kVA, and that it also quotes for supplies over 70kVA, usually for shops, restaurants and car park charging. An electrician is not accredited to work on SSEN's network, so be wary of anyone who says they will upgrade the supply themselves. If a bigger single phase fuse would be enough, SSEN says it can upgrade an older 30A or 60A fuse to 80A or 100A free of charge, and we will tell you if that is the cheaper answer. Book the load check with us on 07304 027013.
Source: SSEN, increase or decrease your electricity supply and its FAQs, checked 6 October 2026. SSEN can change its process and timescales; its own pages are the authority.
Three phase distribution boards and TPN boards
A TPN board, short for triple pole and neutral, is the distribution board a three phase installation is built around: it takes the three phases and neutral from the supply and splits them into single phase ways for lighting and sockets and three phase ways for machinery and sub boards. Commercial boards are built and verified to BS EN 61439-3, a different standard from a home consumer unit.
What separates a good three phase board from a tidy one is the design behind it. Each circuit is chosen for its load and its cable, the devices are coordinated so a fault on one machine trips that machine and not the main switch, sub mains are sized for volt drop as well as current, and every way is labelled by phase and by what it feeds.
The two boards here were photographed by us during commercial EICRs in Aberdeen. They show what we look for on any three phase job: a clear phase layout, a labelled main earth bar, armoured cables properly supported, and separate boards for lighting and emergency lighting. For a straight board replacement, our guide to three phase consumer unit upgrades covers the options.
Board tripping, running warm or out of spare ways? We survey it free and quote a replacement or an extension in writing. Call 07304 027013.
Motor circuits, starters and isolation
A three phase motor started straight on the line draws several times its running current for a few seconds. On a supply with little spare capacity that shows up as lights dipping, contactors dropping out or the main fuse going, so the starting method is part of sizing the supply.
| Starting method | Starting current | Typical use | Trade off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct on line | 6 to 8 times running current | Small motors with plenty of supply headroom | Simplest and cheapest, hardest on the supply and the machine |
| Star delta | About a third of direct on line | Fans, some pumps, machines that start unloaded | Lower inrush, but torque is reduced while starting |
| Soft starter | Reduced and set on the starter | Conveyors, pumps, belt driven plant | Smooth start, gentler on couplings, more to buy and maintain |
| Variable speed drive | Close to running current | Fans and pumps whose speed should follow demand | Lowest inrush and speed control, highest cost, adds harmonics |
What we do with it. We take the electrical specification from your machinery supplier, agree who terminates what, fit a lockable isolator within reach of the machine and the protection the circuit needs, and commission alongside the supplier. Where a gentler starter means the existing supply copes, we price both routes so you can compare them. Send the equipment list and call 07304 027013.
Machinery arriving on a fixed date?
Send the equipment schedule early. We size the board and circuits against it and give you a fixed price and a programme before the plant lands.
Phase balancing on an existing three phase installation
Phase balancing means spreading single phase circuits evenly across L1, L2 and L3. Over years of alterations one phase often ends up carrying far more than the others. Nothing trips, but that phase and its neutral run hotter and three phase motors lose output.
Why it matters
Motors are sensitive to it. The NEMA MG 1 motor standard derates a motor to about 95% of its rating at 2% voltage imbalance and to about 75% at 5%, and current imbalance is several times larger than the voltage imbalance that causes it.
The usual causes are new single phase circuits added to whichever way was free, a fit out that put all the small power on one phase, or a poor connection on one phase. Supply side imbalance from the network is SSEN's to investigate, and worth ruling out first.
What we do about it
We log the current on each phase while the building is working normally, map which circuits sit on which phase, and give you a rebalancing schedule: which circuits move, and what that does to the readings.
The fix is often a few hours at the board, priced as small works before we start, and we check balance as part of every three phase job we take on. Ask for a phase check on 07304 027013.
Three phase testing, certification and BS 7671 Amendment 4
Every piece of three phase work ends with a certificate that your insurer, landlord or machinery supplier can rely on, issued under our NICEIC enrolment.
New work and alterations
An Electrical Installation Certificate for a new board, supply or circuits, and a Minor Works certificate for smaller alterations, each with the test results for every circuit, phase by phase.
Periodic inspection
An existing three phase installation is inspected through a commercial EICR, from £300 + VAT and priced on boards and circuits. Ongoing testing can be scheduled as planned electrical maintenance.
Emergency lighting
Many three phase sites, like the warehouse pictured above, have their own emergency lighting circuits. We test and certify emergency lighting to BS 5266, with its own logbook, separately from the fixed wiring certificates.
Amendment 4:2026
BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 was published on 15 April 2026 and is mandatory for new work from 15 October 2026. For three phase chargers outdoors on a PME supply, open PEN protection can no longer be skipped as not reasonably practicable, and 6mA DC fault detection is still required. We certify new work to A4:2026.
How much does three phase work cost?
Three phase work is priced as a fixed price to a written scope after a free site survey, because the cost turns on your existing supply, the board and the length of the runs, none of which a web page can see. These are the figures we can publish.
What moves our price
Whether the existing board can be extended or must be replaced, the number of circuits and machines, the length of sub mains and cable runs (often the biggest cost on farms and big units), access and containment, and whether the work must be phased around your business.
What SSEN charges separately
Any change to the supply itself is priced by SSEN, not by us. Its quote depends on the service cable, any digging inside and outside your boundary, traffic management and whether the local network needs work. The quote is free and you are not committed until you pay.
Get your three phase job priced in writing
Free site survey, then a fixed price to a written scope, usually within one working day. NICEIC Approved Contractor 620239.
Planning three phase work around your business
Most three phase work needs the power off for part of the job, so the shutdown is planned before anyone picks up a tool.
Shutdowns in our hours
We work Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. Isolations are agreed with you in writing, phased board by board where that keeps part of the site running, and timed to SSEN's date where the supply changes too.
New premises and refits
Moving into a unit or refitting one is the cheapest time to add three phase capacity. Our electrical fit outs cover the whole layout, with the three phase board designed in from the start.
Scottish rules
A building warrant, where one is needed, comes from Aberdeen City Council or Aberdeenshire Council and is the owner's duty. Part P does not apply in Scotland, and there is no Building Control notification here.
Three phase questions from Aberdeen customers
If your question is not here, call 07304 027013 during our opening hours and ask it.
What is three phase power?
Three phase power is a supply with three live conductors, labelled L1, L2 and L3, each carrying 230V to neutral and 400V between any two of them. Because the load is shared across three conductors, a 100A three phase supply delivers about 69kVA against about 23kVA from a 100A single phase supply. Motors also run more smoothly on it, which is why workshop plant, commercial kitchens and farm machinery are built for it.
How do I know if my building already has three phase?
The usual signs are three main fuses at the incoming cutout, a three phase meter, and a distribution board with its ways labelled L1, L2 and L3. Do not open any cover to check. We confirm the supply type, the fuse rating and the spare capacity at the free site survey.
How much does it cost to get a three phase supply?
There are two separate costs. SSEN prices the network side: its quote is free, carries no obligation and is valid for 90 days, and the figure depends on the cable, any digging and whether the local network needs work. Our side, the new board, the connection from the meter and the circuits to your equipment, is a fixed price to a written scope after a free site survey. Small works on an existing three phase installation get a clear price before any work starts.
How long does a three phase upgrade take?
SSEN says a quoter will contact you within 5 working days of applying, quotes are usually issued within 5 to 15 working days, and it aims to start work within 4 weeks of payment, or 6 to 8 weeks on average where land rights or council permits are needed. Your energy supplier then updates the meter. The board and wiring on your side usually take far less time than that, so we plan our work around SSEN's date.
Can my electrician upgrade the supply to three phase?
No. SSEN states that an electrician is not accredited to work on its network, so the service cable, cutout and network side are SSEN's job and the meter belongs to your energy supplier. Our part is everything on your side of the meter: the load figure for the application, the new three phase board, the connection from the meter and every circuit beyond it, tested and certified.
Do I need three phase for a 22kW EV charger?
Yes. A 22kW charger needs a three phase supply. Most homes are single phase, so the home chargers we fit are 7.4kW single phase units. On business premises with a three phase supply, 22kW chargers for fleets and staff are installed through our commercial EV work, with workplace chargers from £800 + VAT.
Do houses ever have three phase?
Some do. Larger country houses, farmhouses and homes with big electrical loads sometimes have a three phase supply, but most UK homes are single phase. SSEN says most homes and small businesses can apply to upgrade from single phase to three phase, up to 69kVA. Before anyone applies, it is worth checking whether a bigger single phase main fuse or load management would cover the need, because that costs far less.
Do I need a building warrant for three phase work in Scotland?
It depends on the building and the work. In Scotland a building warrant comes from the local council, Aberdeen City Council for the city and Aberdeenshire Council for the shire, and the duty to obtain one sits with the owner. Part P does not apply in Scotland and there is no Building Control notification here; those are the England and Wales rules. We tell you at the survey whether your job is likely to need a warrant.
Book a free three phase site survey
Call 07304 027013 or use the form. Tell us the site address, what the building is used for and what you are adding, whether that is a machine, an oven, chargers or a whole new supply. We survey the supply and the board, tell you whether you need three phase at all, and send a fixed price in writing, usually within one working day.
Request a three phase quote
Faithful Spark Electricians Ltd, 17 Thomson Road, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, AB42 3FJ. Registered in Scotland SC821028. VAT 503 6560 13. NICEIC Approved Contractor 620239. TrustMark 4205123. OZEV EVHS/WCS14254. £2M public liability. Prices exclude VAT and were correct at October 2026. SSEN process and timescales from ssen.co.uk, checked 6 October 2026. Motor starting figures are typical engineering ranges and derating figures follow NEMA MG 1; the design for any installation follows a site survey. Last updated 6 October 2026.