A three-phase motor shows a line-to-line voltage of 460 V. If the motor is wired in WYE, what is the approximate phase voltage?

• A. 460 V
• B. 265 V
• C. 133 V
• D. 800 V

Answer: (B)

In a Wye connection, the line-to-line voltage is √3 times the phase voltage, so the phase voltage is the line voltage divided by √3. With 460 V line-to-line, the phase voltage is 460 / √3 ≈ 460 / 1.732 ≈ 265 V. That’s why the approximate phase voltage is about 265 V. The other values don’t fit this relationship for a Wye-connected motor.