What type of load is better balanced with a wye configuration?

A balanced wye configuration is particularly advantageous for handling inductive loads, which are common in electrical systems, such as motors and transformers. This is because inductive loads draw current that lags the voltage. In a wye configuration, each phase is connected to a neutral point, allowing for better management of phase currents.

When inductive loads are used in a wye configuration, any imbalance in the load can be compensated by the neutral connection, preventing excessive voltages from appearing across any of the phases. This promotes the stability and reliability of the electrical system, helping to minimize potential issues like overheating or equipment malfunction.

While other types of loads exist, they do not necessarily benefit in the same way from a wye configuration as inductive loads do. Capacitive loads can lead to a different set of operational challenges, such as leading power factors, which require additional considerations. Resistive loads, while they can be balanced as well, do not impose the same phase angle issues that inductive loads do, so they are not as critical for stabilization in this context.

Therefore, the emphasis on inductive loads when discussing the advantages of a wye configuration makes clear why this is the most relevant answer in the context of load balancing.