Your observation about single phase is correct for UK. However in other parts of Europe 3 phase is routinely supplied to quite small dwellings.
I live in a small 2 bedroom apartment in Belgium of about 80m² which is supplied with 3 phase with 230 volts between phases and no neutral. More modern homes are supplied with 3 phase and neutral with
400 volts from phase to phase.This arrangement makes a standardised pre-wired power distribution box impossible (except in UK).
As a side note the UK nominal 240 volts is becoming 230 volts and the rest of Europe 220 volts is becoming 230 volts for European harmonisation.
obsidian
snipped-for-privacy@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
> [snip]
>
> Despite the different frequency, both US/Canadian and European homes
> have single-phase power; nobody bothers with three phase for homes,
> because there isn't enough demand in homes to justify the added
> expense of installing three-phase power.
> The difference is that European homes receive a 220-volt, single-phase
> feed at their electric outlets, which is, of course, twice the "110"
> volt standard used on this side of the Atlantic. The higher voltage
> means lower current for the same wattage, thus allowing smaller wire
> sizes and concomitant savings in home construction costs.
>
> William Warren
> (Filter noise from my address for direct replies)