What to check before you buy commercial catering equipment
Nationwide Catering Equipment | nationwidecatering.co.uk
Every few weeks someone walks into our warehouse looking confused. They’ve bought a combi oven online, it’s turned up, and they can’t plug it in. The oven needs three phase power. Their kitchen has single phase. So now there’s a new piece of equipment sitting in a box, and a service that’s running short because the plan was to have it in last week.
This happens far more than you’d think. And it’s nearly always the same story. Nobody told them to check.
If any of that sounds familiar, this guide is for you.
What is single phase power?
Single phase is the standard electricity supply you’ll find in most UK homes and small commercial buildings. It runs at 230V. One live wire, one neutral, one earth.
Most catering equipment that draws under 13 amps comes with a normal three-pin plug. Anything bigger has to be hardwired into a fused spur, which always means a qualified electrician fits it. That’s the same whether the equipment is single or three phase.
On a spec sheet you’ll see it labelled 1PH or 1N. Voltage will be 230V.
Plenty of commercial catering equipment runs on single phase. Commercial microwaves, most under-counter fridges and freezers, glasswashers, water boilers, smaller countertop fryers, and toasters. If you’ve fitted out a small café or takeaway recently, the chances are almost everything in there runs on single phase.
What is three phase power?
Three phase uses three live wires instead of one. Each one carries power at a slightly different point in the cycle, which gives a much steadier supply. That steadiness matters when you’ve got high-performance equipment that needs to hold temperature through a heavy service.
Take two fryers that look identical on a worktop. They’ll both run at the same target temperature, but the three phase one will reach it quicker and won’t drop temperature as much when you load a basket in. That’s the difference between cruising through a lunch rush and falling behind on it.
It runs at 400V. On a spec sheet you’ll see 3PH or 3N.
Three phase equipment is usually hardwired or fitted with a five-pin commando plug, which is the chunky industrial-style socket you’ve probably seen at the back of a busy commercial kitchen.
The reason high-performance equipment needs three phase is straightforward. A 10-grid Rational combi oven can pull more than 147 amps across its three phases. A single phase supply just can’t carry that. Try to run it on single phase and at best it won’t switch on, at worst you’ve got a safety problem.
Equipment that’s typically three phase: large combi ovens from 10-grid up, pass-through dishwashers, big electric range cookers, larger commercial fryers, and industrial refrigeration.
How do I know what I’ve got?
Most people don’t. We get it. It’s just not something you tend to think about until it becomes a problem. Almost every customer who walks through our door has never had to ask the question before.
Here’s how to find out.
Quick rule of thumb: most independent cafés, takeaways, and small kitchens run on single phase. Larger restaurants, purpose-built commercial kitchens, and industrial food units are usually three phase. Older premises, rural locations, and converted units often only have single phase, even when you’d expect otherwise.
Look at the equipment you’ve already got. The voltage and phase are printed on the spec plate. If something in your kitchen is already running on three phase, you’ve got a three phase supply.
Ask your electrician. They’ll tell you in two minutes, and that’s the most reliable answer.
Why does it matter when buying equipment?
Because the two aren’t interchangeable. You cannot run three phase equipment on a single phase supply. You cannot run single phase equipment on three phase without the right setup. Mixing them up voids warranties and creates real safety problems.
Some equipment is dual phase, meaning it can run on either. But that’s the exception. Always check the spec sheet.
The bit that really hurts is the knock-on cost. The equipment sits in a box while you work out what to do with it. In nearly every case we see, people end up returning it or selling it on second-hand, often at a loss, and starting again with a single phase alternative. That’s weeks of disruption your kitchen could’ve done without.
What does upgrading to three phase cost?
If your premises doesn’t have three phase and you need it, you’ve got to apply through your Distribution Network Operator. That’s the company that looks after the electricity infrastructure in your area. Your electrician will usually handle the paperwork.
Typical UK cost is £3,500 to £8,000 plus VAT. It can go higher if roadworks or bigger infrastructure changes are needed. UK Power Networks, who cover London and the South East, say around 70 per cent of their upgrades fall between £3,500 and £6,000.
Lead time is six to sixteen weeks from application to completion.
That’s a serious amount of money and a serious amount of waiting. In practice, almost nobody puts three phase in just to plug in one new piece of equipment. What actually happens is they return or resell what they bought and look for a single phase version instead.
If your building already has three phase, hooking new equipment into it just costs an electrician’s time. Much more manageable.
Quick reference: which equipment needs what?
Use this as a starting point. The spec sheet is always the final word, because the same model is sometimes available in either phase.
|
Equipment |
Usually single phase |
Usually three phase |
|
Small combi oven (6-grid) |
Rare |
Most |
|
Combi oven (10-grid and up) |
|
Yes |
|
Pass-through dishwasher |
|
Most |
|
Under-counter dishwasher / glasswasher |
Most |
|
|
Commercial microwave |
Yes |
|
|
Large electric range cooker |
|
Most |
|
Countertop fryer (small to medium) |
Most |
|
|
Commercial fridge / freezer |
Most |
|
|
Water boiler |
Yes |
|
Before you buy: a five-minute checklist
1. Find out what supply your premises has. Ask your electrician if you’re not sure.
2. Read the spec sheet on the equipment. Look for 1PH or 3PH, or check the voltage. 230V is single, 400V is three phase.
3. If you’re replacing existing equipment, match like-for-like where you can.
4. If you’re fitting out a new kitchen, talk to an electrician before you order, not after.
5. Budget for installation. All hardwired equipment needs a qualified electrician.
|
Free download: We’ve put together a one-page check sheet you can print and keep in the office, or hand to your electrician when you’re sourcing equipment. Free to download from our resources page at nationwidecatering.co.uk/resources or by clicking HERE. |
How NCE can help
We sell single phase and three phase equipment, both used and new. Every listing on our website, our eBay shop, and our Facebook Marketplace tells you straight up which one it is. You don’t have to guess.
A fair bit of the brand new equipment we have in the warehouse is here because someone bought it online without checking, realised they couldn’t use it, and sold it on, often at a loss. We pick that stock up regularly. So when we say check before you buy, we’re saying it because we see the fallout most weeks.
Here’s the bit worth knowing. If you haven’t got three phase and you’ve spotted something you like the look of, speak to us first. We can usually source the same equipment in single phase, or point you towards something that does the same job in your kitchen. That can save you spending five grand or more on a supply upgrade you didn’t actually need.
If you’re not sure what you’ve got, or what you need, give us a ring before you order. Five minutes on the phone beats five weeks waiting for an electrician.
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Norman and Richard
Nationwide Catering Equipment
nationwidecatering.co.uk
A few questions we get asked regularly
How do I know if I have three phase power?
Quick rule of thumb: independent cafés, takeaways, and most small kitchens run on single phase. Larger restaurants, purpose-built commercial kitchens, and industrial food units are usually three phase. You can also check the spec plate on any equipment already running in your kitchen, where the voltage and phase are printed. If you’re still not sure, your electrician will tell you in two minutes, and that’s the most reliable answer.
Do I need three phase for a combi oven?
It depends on the size. Anything 10-grid and up is almost always three phase, because the load is too high for single phase to carry. Smaller 6-grid combis are usually three phase too, with single phase versions being rare. Always check the spec sheet, because the same model is sometimes available in either phase.
What do 1PH and 3PH mean on a spec sheet?
1PH (or 1N) means single phase. 3PH (or 3N) means three phase. Voltage is the other clue. 230V is single phase. 400V is three phase.
Are commercial dishwashers single phase or three phase?
Under-counter dishwashers and glasswashers are usually single phase. Pass-through and conveyor dishwashers are usually three phase, because they handle higher volumes and need more power. The spec sheet is always the final word.
Can I run three phase equipment on a single phase supply?
No. The two aren’t interchangeable. Three phase equipment needs three live wires to function. Trying to run it on a single phase supply at best won’t switch on, and at worst is unsafe. It also voids the warranty.
What if I’ve already bought three phase equipment and I’ve only got single phase?
You’ve got two options. The first is to upgrade your supply, but as covered above, that runs into thousands of pounds and weeks of waiting. Almost nobody does that for one piece of equipment. The second, much more common, is to return or resell what you bought and find a single phase alternative. If you’d like a hand finding one, give us a ring.
Is three phase power better than single phase?
Better depends on what you need. Three phase is more stable and recovers faster from temperature drops, which makes it the right choice for high-performance equipment running through busy services. Single phase is fine for the majority of equipment in a small to medium kitchen. The phase you need is dictated by the equipment, not the other way round.
Sources & further reading
The technical and cost information in this guide is drawn from UK industry and government sources, including:
• UK Power Networks: typical upgrade costs and lead times for new and upgraded electricity connections (ukpowernetworks.co.uk/connections)
• Energy Networks Association: find your local Distribution Network Operator (energynetworks.org)
• Health and Safety Executive: electricity at work guidance for commercial premises (hse.gov.uk/electricity)
• Office for Product Safety and Standards: commercial electrical equipment standards (gov.uk)