How can you get 208V single phase from a residential service?

There are buck-boost Transformers available that will do just that. I don't know about the buck-boost transformers, but most residential service is 110/220 single phase. The phase is split at the transformer that feeds the house from the power line. You will often see appliances marked with a voltage of 208/230 or something in that rang. So you should have single phase 110/220 volt already. Hope this helps, waterman@bluemarble.net. You cannot get 208V directly from residential service. 208V is usually found in 3 phase commercial/industrial supply. You can get 240V, as mentioned above, between the two hots of residential service. Check the ratings on your device to see if that will work, keeping in mind the device must be able to handle a minumum of 250VAC for that to work.