it's quite common that people to think you need 3 wire plus ground for 240 volts

[rpcraft]

I'm guessing you still don't really understand it.


I don't think I understand what you are saying. Do you mean a receptacle? I don't think there is such a thing as a "surface mount 14-50 plug". What is the pigtail plugging into? Or are you just going to run the SOOW into the breaker box and have a "cord" hanging out of it?

No I don't understand it. I guess I don't need to really. I can read up later more when I might have free time (probably never in my world). I knew it wouldn't work with the adapter and my interest was more in the regards to why it works like it does and I was just curious what it would look like in practice without having all 4 wires and using the adapter. For now I just need the ability to hook stuff up in the back yard shop without producing sparks, fire, or a shock.

Yes, I meant receptacle, outlet, box, or whatever. I think I have established I am not an electrican so us laymen would call the plug that you plug your plug into a plug, but I think you are just asking to make sure I am not using an actual plug is thoughtful so thanks for checking.

It is the female variant of the "plug" that I am referencing when I call the plug a plug though instead of a receptacle. I'm definitely down for adventure but not smoking meth and into making a suicide switch, and plus, how would I surface mount an actual plug, as opposed to the receptacle? If you have seen that I need to see the pictures because now I am more curious to see that than understand the why of 100 volts, lol!!!

Happy Sunday

 

[whateg01]

If you have seen that I need to see the pictures because now I am more curious to see that than understand the why of 100 volts, lol!!!

Never seen 14-50 but other plugs can be panel/bulkhead mounted.

 

[dave*99]

I need to see the pictures because now I am more curious to see that than understand the why of 100 volts,

What brand and model meter are you using? There is always a good explanation for what you are observing but more detail is needed.

Ultimately you would be better served by making the proper connections. The details about what you are observing are many and require some level of technical understanding that is hard to convey.

 

[rpcraft]

My meter is a Klein cl800 and I was also monitoring amps and wattage on the spider box with a killawatt too (from harbor freight). I just wanted to measure what the portable AC tops out at for the sake of other future uses in my home office. It's a warm room thing.

So short story long, I went ahead wired it up properly off the old welder breaker with 6/3 NM and the right knockout rings with the idea it's temporary. I've got a car in the way so I was limited to a keyhole saw to get the knockout installed and get the wire fed out where I need it to run to the temporary surface mount receptacle. Is it code? No, not with the surface mount. Will it burn down the joint? Also, No. HD and lowes were both out of 6/4 soow so decisions had to be made. On the upside I used the correct knockout inserts and it while it isn't the cleanest routing in the main panel its good enough for now. I can come back later when my project car isn't in the way and bury it properly.

For now I attached the surface receptacle into one of the studs in line with the panel to the right side. I think its about 22 inches from the floor but I left enough so I can shorten it and have it about a foot below the main panel, well above the minimum height for receptacles. That will allow me to mount one of those gang boxes for 50 amp receptacles, bury it all, and then fix the hole in the sheetrock. It'll be permanent and technically I can remove the old welder outlet and patch that too, but that's a later project and honestly It's a temporary fix for today issue. Might be a point where when I get my project running and out of the garage the oven comes back in there but I doubt it. I'm trying to keep the powder coating stuff contained to the shop/shed because powder coat gets into everything when you're spraying it. Having the outlet properly wired socket will allow me to not be afraid of my sub panel once I rewire that and mount it back up for the rest of the tools in the garage. For now a 4 to 3 adapter can power my plasma table and welder with no worry too, just at some point I like to not have to plug and unplug them is all.

Thanks for the tips and consideration.