[Heathkit] grounds

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 6 Dec 2007 at 20:27, Gudguyham at aol.com wrote:

>     whenever I run electrical to new construction, I run only three
>     wires > for 220... the two hot sides and the neutral/ground... so
>     far the > electrical inspector has signed off all of it with no
>     hesitation, even > though I am not convinced the national code is
>     being met...
> 
>     It is not. Perhaps your inspector is not up on the latest 
>     electrical code. It now requires separate ground and neutral
>     wires.
> 
> 
> If you have a 220 volt ONLY load, like a 220 baseboard heater, or a
> ham amp connected for 220v you only need 3 wires.

Yes.

> 2 hots and a ground.

Notice the word "GROUND" here, not Neutral. They are not 
the same thing and serve different purposes.


> A neutral is not needed.

Correct.

> 4 wires

i.e., 2 hots, a neutral, and a ground.

> is needed only when the load uses
> 120v as well as 220, like a stove, clothes dryer and the like. Lou

Or if you have other 120v appliances in the home...like 
lights, etc. One reason for the requirement for a neutral is 
that in a home, most loads are not evenly balanced across 
the 220v line.

Ken Gordon W7EKB