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240 volt plug has 3 outlets, but
box has 4 wires Resource: Safe electric wiring E-mail: geno03245w@gmail.com |
![]() Multimeter Test for breaks in wire/ Test for voltage Most appliance require 80% rated voltage to function correctly Buy Analog multimeter Multimeters at Amazon Klein multimeter Electric testers at Amazon Clampmeter for testing amp flow on line Resource: How to test and replace element How to test thermocouple Element tests for 120 volts How to test wire |
Safety
when testing wires:
Never touch wet or previously flooded appliance. Never stand on wet surface when working on electric. Never stand on bare soil, put down dry boards. Tape tester leads to wood sticks to keep hands away from power. Use non-contact voltage tester before touching wires. Never touch or lean into any made of metal. Remove metal objects from pockets. Do not use oxygen or fuel accelerants in same room as electrical repairs Resource: Basic house wiring |
![]() Non-contact voltage tester Test for power without touching connectors NEVER assume power is OFF Buy: Non-contact voltage tester Amazon Electric testers at Amazon Resource: How to test electric power is off |
![]() 120 volt GFCI, outlet, receptacle that is rated 20 amp can be installed on 20 amp breaker only, but NOT on 15 amp breaker. Buy 15 amp GFCI 20 amp GFCI |
Buy Basic electric book Home plumbing/ electrical codes ![]() Or learn about basic household electricity... use and search my site/ Resource Safe electric wiring Basic house wiring |
![]() Use outlet tester to check for correct wiring on any 120 volt straight-blade outlet. Buy: Klein testers Outlet tester Circuit breaker finder Electric usage monitor |
![]() Twist-on wire connector assortmentsDo not reuse old connectorsTwist wire connector very tight. Pull wires to ensure they will not come loose. Cover all bare copper. Buy: Connector assortment at Amazon Connector assortment at Amazon Resource How to select and install twist-on wire connectors |
![]() Weatherproof wire connectorConnector cavity is full of siliconeBuilt-in cover keeps silicone in place Protect from water, dust etc Buy from my affiliate links Weatherproof size 14 to 6 Amazon Weatherproof size 22 to 8 Amazon Resource How to select and install connectors |
Connect wire to screw terminal Use only 600 volt solid copper wire. Do not use stranded wire or extension cord. Do not use solder anywhere on residential 120-240 volt wiring. Attach electric installation to structure. Tighten screws very tight against wire. ![]() Buy: NEC books Dewalt plumbing/ electrical codes Basic electric book National electric code guide/ illustrated Resources: How to twist wire How to select and install twist-on wire connectors |
![]() Operate outdoor toggle switch safely ... and easily Replaces outdoor cover. Install over top of ordinary toggle switch. Works with single-pole, double-pole, 3PST, 3-way, 4-way switches etc. Buy: Best choice: Cantex lever switch Outdoor lever switches at Amazon |
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![]() Push-on wire connectors in place of twist-on connectorsBuy:Push on wire connectors Amazon Red 3P connector for 10-14 gauge wire Lever connectors for stranded wire at Amazon |
![]() Use nipper instead of pliers or screwdriver for removing staples (and nails). Do not damage cable or wires inside cable. Code -Cable SHALL BE secured without damage to the outer covering. NEC sec. 336-15 Buy End cutting nippers at Amazon |
![]() ![]() ![]() When removing insulation from wire, do NOT score or put cuts on surface of copper wire. Doing so increases resistances on wire and creates weak point. Buy tools: Wire strippers at Amazon Linesman pliers Pro linesman plier Needle nose pliers End cutting nippers at Amazon |
![]() Weather resistant plastic box for outdoor extension cord connections, Christmas lights, outdoor power strip etc . Not for connecting wires with wire nutsŪ, or in-wall wiring, but can be used indoors to organize extension cords, power strips etc. Weather resistant is not weatherproof or watertight. Use enclosures rated IP65 and IP67 for waterproof. Extension cords cannot be used for permanent wiring. Buy: Large-medium-small electric cord box Socketbox Raintight enclosures Water-tight cord lock Resource: Enclosures and boxes |
![]() I have older house with a 240 volt 30 amp receptacle for an electric dryer. The wire coming into box for dryer plug has 4 wires. Two hot wires, a Neutral and a ground, but the new receptacle for dryer only has three slots. One each for the Hots and of course the one for the Neutral wire. I saw that the Neutral and Ground are connected in the Main Panel Questions: What do I do with
the
bare Ground wire in receptacle.
Can I combine the Neutral and Bare Ground to the same slot, since they’re like that in the Main Panel? Answer: Be careful here. The Neutral is NOT connected to a 240 volt 3-prong outlet. The Neutral should be capped off and not used. ![]() Result: the plug will have 2 hots and a ground. ... which is all that's needed for modern 240 volt appliances. The ground wire must be connected to green ground screw or screw marked G, but never connect Neutral and ground on same screw terminal. Look at markings on 3-prong receptacle and it should be marked X Y G. The X and Y terminals are usually black, dark brown, or brass colored and are for the two Hot wires. The G terminal is green, and is for the ground wire ... but do NOT connect the Neutral to any terminal. Resources: How to wire 240 volt outlets Why you need ground wire ![]() By code, a 30 amp
outlet must be connected to 30 amp breaker. Cannot be connected to
15-20-40-50 etc amp breaker.
Use minimum 10 ga wire .... can use larger if wire fits screw terminals. Tighten screws very tight against wire. Resource: Color code for wire -Outlet must be installed inside electrically-rated rectangle box (deep box is easiest for heavy gauge wires ... metal or plastic). Box must match outlet. Box must have cover that matches the outlet. Buy: 30 amp outlet cover -Cannot use homemade box, round box, octagon box, square box, junction box, pull box, etc. -As an option, you can use all-in-one surface mount box with 30 amp outlet Buy 30 amp surface mount Wire or conduit must be clamped to box, and box attached to structure. Movement is a major cause of electrical failure, fire, short, hazard etc. |
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Details that apply to same topic![]() If the 240 volt residential outlet has 4 prongs ... then the markings will show X Y W G. With W for Neutral. By code, 240 volt outlets with 4 prongs must have 4 wires ... including Neutral and ground. 3-phase 4 and 5 prong outlets 4 prongs 3-phase commercial outlet markings will show X Y Z G ... corresponding to 3 Hots and a ground ... and outlet must have 4 wires. 5 prong 3-phase outlet will be marked XYZWG ... and requires 3 Hot wires, a Neutral and ground. Resource: Difference single-phase and 3-phase Neutral and ground: It is against code to connect Neutral and ground wires to same screw ... it is against code to use a Neutral wire for ground, or ground for Neutral. ![]() (a) The ground wire must be separate and provide a direct, low-resistance path for short circuit to reach the ground rod driven into soil outside home or building. This allows unrestricted flow of excess current (or overcurrent from short circuit or insulation failure) to be absorbed by earth. The ground is first line of defense against injury and damage ... assisting the circuit breaker (overcurrent protection) absorb excess power and minimize damage or melting of wires and devices ... and help protect against personal injury. (b) Neutral wire performs a different function from the ground wire, even though both Neutral and ground busbars are bonded (connected) together inside the main panel. The Neutral carries voltage when 120 volt loads are operating. While the ground carries voltage only when there is an insulation failure or short circuit. Across the entire grid, the Neutral is bonded to a ground rod at every pole, transformer, substation, etc all the way back to the power plant. The Neutral runs continuously back to the generator coils, completing the circuit for all single-phase loads, while the array of ground rods (and substation circuit breakers) help prevent overvoltages and short circuits from damaging the grid. Resources See inside main breaker box. Electricity from power plant to household (c) The Neutral must be a continuous throughout a home or business, and cannot be switched on-off. A Neutral is never switched. This ensures proper operation of 120 volt appliances, devices etc. (d) If Neutral is used as ground wire, or ground used as Neutral, or both are connected together ... and there is a short circuit ... the overamperage can enter the device that is connected to Neutral wire ... and cause damage or personal hazard. (e) A grounded Neutral is a noted hazard that is against the electric code, and can be hard to detect until there is a short circuit or while doing electric maintenance. The electrician, or homeowner would naturally assume ground wire is not energized ... except a grounded Neutral is carrying hazardous power that shows up on the ground wire and can cause unexpected injury, burns, etc, even if breaker is off. Turning off main breaker will solve the risk, but not correct the problem of a grounded Neutral. ![]() Kirk observed that the Neutral and ground are connected together on same busbar inside his breaker box or main panel. Older main breaker panels often have a single busbar for both Neutral and ground wires ... these panels are still allowed if approved by local code ... but are not best practice. Modern panels are required to have separate busbars for Neutral and ground ... all grounds must be connected to ground busbar, and Neutrals connected to Neutral busbar. This means less resistance on the ground wire for runaway current (caused by a short) to reach earth. Less resistance means more protection for the breaker, faster response time for GFCI, and better protection against nearby lightning strike. The separate Neutral and ground busbars are located on opposite sides of the panel ... and are bonded (connected) together with a metal bar .... but the big Neutral wire coming in from power company transformer is only connected to the Neutral busbar ... while the ground busbar is connected to a copper wire that travels to the ground rod. Note about illustration:
The illustration on right shows neutral and ground on same side on breaker box so image has enough space to show wires and connections. Also missing is the ground wire leaving panel and traveling to ground rod. |
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Clarification: People often say plug instead of outlet or receptactle. Plug can often mean three things. (1) Plug can be a receptacle or outlet that is wired to power, and then screwed into box, with a cover applied. Outlet and receptacle are correct. (2) Plug can also mean the 'plug' at end of cord that you push into receptacle. Plug is correct term. (3) Plug can also mean the Connector or female end on an extension cord. Connector is the technical term. Answer 2: ![]() In this case, the new plug must have 4 terminals X Y W G for attaching the 4 wires. Buy: 4 prong plug The problem folks encounter with a 4-wire 240 volt single phase household appliance with a 4-prong plug, is modern household 240 volt wiring typically does not include a Neutral wire ... and the outlet or receptacle only has 3 prongs ... not the required 4 prongs. The solution requires a new 30 amp outlet with 4 prongs ... and adding a Neutral wire. Adding a Neutral can be accomplished 2 ways: (1) Change the 10-2
w ground cable coming from breaker box (main panel) to a 10-3 w ground
cable
Must
use electrically rated 600 volt wire as printed on cable sheathing.
Cannot use extension cord for permanent in-wall wiring.
(2) Bring a Neutral wire over from the a nearby 120 volt outlet. Best to use solid copper wire, and not stranded. Wires heat up when appliance is drawing amperage. Continual heating and cooling of 14-12-10-8 gauge wire under screw terminals causes expansion and contraction that can cause stranded wire to splay apart, come loose under terminal, start overheating, and eventually arc and fail. Applies to switches, outlets and circuit breakers. Stranded wire can be joined with short piece of solid wire using twist on connector, and then the solid wire put under screw terminal.. To
bring Neutral from nearby outlet requires at least a 12-2 cable (on a
30 amp breaker) from the nearby 120 volt box. You can run a single wire
(not a 12-2 cable, but just a single wire) if and only if you install
inside conduit.
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Single-phase 240 volt outlet is
marked X-Y-W-G or X-Y-G X and Y are Hot, W Neutral, G ground 120V and 240V need two wires to complete circuit, plus ground wire for safety. 120V requires 1 hot and 1 neutral. 240V requires 2 hots. Neutral is not needed for 240volt electric circuit, but is sometimes included on electrical device. NOTE: you cannot put all 9 of these devices on same breaker since some are 30 amp and some are 50 amp. Illustration only shows how to connect wires to XYWG terminals. Resources: See inside main box Figure volts amps watts Select correct wire and breaker Electrical formulas Commercial 3-phase outlet is marked X-Y-Z-G or X-Y-Z-W-G Resource: How to wire 3-phase |
Use only 600 volt wire. Lamp cord, extension cords are not rated 600 volt. Use copper wire only. Aluminum wire is fire risk and should be avoided or installed by professional. 30 amp breaker use 10 gauge / ![]() Buy: 10-2 gauge/ 30 amp 10-3/ 30 amp Southwire electric tools |
Yellow
12 gauge 20 amp![]() Yellow/ #12 gauge wire for 20 amp with ground Buy: 12-2 gauge/ 20 amp 12-3/ 20 amp NMB is house wiring UF is underground Rolls of stranded wire |
White
14 gauge 15 amp![]() White/ #14 gauge wire for 15 amp with ground Buy: 14-2 gauge/ 15 amp 14-3/ 15 amp NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
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