[Boatanchors] Running European 230 VAC on our AC

[Albert LaFrance]

A basic 240 volt circuit is two hots and a (safety) ground.  The hots can be
any color except white (reserved for neutrals) and green (reserved for
ground).  Typically they will be black and red.

A 120/240 volt circuit will have two hots, a neutral and a ground.  This
four-wire circuit is required whenever any part of the load requires 120V;
for example a range which puts either 120 or 240 on a heating element
depending on the temperature setting.  This can be confusing because, in the
past, the National Electrical Code allowed one conductor to serve as both
neutral and safety ground in specific cases (ranges  being the one I know
for sure), but  now that's prohibited.  The neutral is considered to be (and
is!) a current-carrying conductor and must be separate from the ground,
which is provided for safety.  The neutral and ground are only
interconnected at the service panel.  I believe the reasoning is that, if
the neutral carries current, it will have a voltage drop, and if the neutral
were tied to an appliance cabinet, there would be a possibly hazardous
voltage difference between that appliance and a nearby grounded object.

Albert   

> -----Original Message-----
> From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:boatanchors-
> bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ken
> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 5:15 PM
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Running European 230 VAC on our AC
> 
> None of my 240 is wired that way.  120 on Hot 1, 120 on Hot 2.  And a
ground.
> 240Volt has 2 Hot wires.
> Hot wires can be Black-Red or Black-White Neutral not required for 240V.
> 
> On 10/19/2012 03:11 PM, rbethman wrote:
> > The 240VAC by NEC, is 240 on one prong, Neutral on the other, and
> > ground in the ground prong.
> >
> > The house can power it.  BUT - sounds like you need an electrician to
> > run an outlet for you.
> >
> > Bob - N0DGN
> >
> > On 10/19/2012 3:59 PM, Keith Densmore wrote:
> >> Greetings,
> >> I am not much experienced in running 220 volt lines so this leads to a
> question.
> >> I have aquired a German teleprinter which needs 220-240 VAC at 40 to 70
> Hz. 150 Watts.
> >>
> >> The German plug is 3 prongs 230-- neutral --- ground.
> >> As I understand it,  the 240 over here is 120-neutral-120 ground.
> >> Can I use the house current to power this machine or should I use a 120
> volt stepped up to 230 through a transformer? The cycles are not a
problems,
> the German unit will work on 60 HZ.
> >> Thanks,
> >>    better to ask than blow up something, hi.
> >>
> >> 73,
> >> Keith
> >>
> >
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