Can a four prong 220v recept (twist type) be wire to a 3 prong 220v plug?

Question

I have a generator 220v with a four prong twist type receptable and I want to connect to a 3 prong twist type receptable. Does the grd prone and the neutral prone serve the same purpose.

Answer 1

To start, I'm assuming you live in USA or Canada and the generator uses a L14-20 or L14-30 type outlet. Anywhere else or with a different type outlet and you should supply updated information.

In your generator, the four conductor outlet will supply ground, neutral, and two live terminals. It is likely that the neutral and ground conductors are bonded internally. This should be confirmed before proceeding. The bonding jumper must be in place for safety reasons and to ensure proper reference to the live conductors.

Inside your main home electrical panel, ground and neutral wires are bonded together, but this does not mean they serve the main purpose. Neutral acts as a return conductor for the live lines. Ground wire should never have current flow except for during breakdown of insulation or other failure conditions. It ensures the chassis of equipment remains at ground potential and safe to touch, reducing the chance of electrical shock. You should never interchange the two or assume you can use the ground wire as a neutral return.

You suggestion will work if you are planning to operate a 240V only appliance which does not require the neutral conductor. Connect to the two live terminals and the ground terminal. If the cord uses black white and green wires, the white wire at each end should be covered with black or red tape to signifiy it is being used as a live conductor, not neutral. The generator chassis should be properly connected to a ground rod.

I have other generator connection and safety pointers on my web page.
http://members.rennlist.org/warren/generator.html

Answer 2

the regulations just recently changed within the past couple of years requiring new homes to be built with the 4 prong recepticals rather than the 3 prong recepticals for 220 V outlets. If your dryer is pretty new, within the last 4 years or so... the cord that is attached to it now should be able to be interchanged with a 4 prong cord by simply buyingh a four prong cord and screwing the eylets to the correct connections on the back of your dryer. If your cord cannot be switched out, then I would go backward and replace the 4 prong box with a 3 prong box. I would do it this way so that all your electrical connections are inside a receptical, instead of having 220 Volt wires just wire nuted together.okay good luck.

Answer 3

Double check your generator manual and make sure the 220V at the 4 prong receptacle is not poly phase power.

Answer 4

Yes, but in actuality, you have the ground, and a 'neutral' in a 4 wire application. In three wire settings, that extra ground wire is dropped.

It is easy to go from an appliance or other product that uses 3 wires, to a 4 wire supply...and not too much more difficult to go the other direction.

Here is my suggestion, take a picture of each type of receptacle or plug that you want to hook up, down to your local hardware, or building supply store, and ask them what you need to make an adapter cord. Get a good heavy wire, and use good boxes for the receptacles. Don't stint on the quality of the materials you use, the heavier or stronger, they are, the better the results you will have.

Ive made everything from adapters for welders, generators, air compressors, and even clothes dryers, to get from one plug or receptacle to another. As long as you don't have to go far with the run of wire, it won't cost too much to put together.

And, 'htt...' has a good suggestion about checking the output type of power on your generator.

Have Fun

Answer 5

Not legally. Not safely.

Neutrals are current carrying conductors. They ARE NOT the same as grounds.

Answer 6

Yes this will work it is not recomended but the nuetral and ground are essentially the same