220v question....

[pipehack]

I posted a thread about "220v confusion" a couple weeks ago.
O.k. so here's the deal. I shut off the breaker and disconnected the wires. Pulled out the old #8 wire that was in there. BUT>>>> The two black wires were #8 and one red wire was #10 which went to the neutral bar. This house was built about 32 years ago and color coding wasn't around then. so it was run what ya brung. I pulled 2 # 8 black wires and 1 #8 green wire. I know the black ones go to the breaker but my question is ...... Does the green wire go to the neutral bar??? Is that the same as ground?? Where does it go???

 

[nate379]

What are you wiring? Normally if it's just 3 wire 240v it will go to ground. 4 wire you'd add the neutral into the mix.

 

[nadogail]

If the panel we are talking about is your main panel the Neutral Bar is supposed to be connected to Ground, this is usually done with a long screw threaded through the Neutral Bar into the can. The can is supposed to be grounded.

 

[LoneGunman]

As nadogail said, if it's your primary means of disconnect the neutrals and the grounds are connected. Color coding was very much around 32 years ago, of course that does not mean it was followed everywhere.

 

[pipehack]

It is done...... I was waiting for an electrician from one of the jobs I was working on to call me and possibly come over. He did call me and I told him what I had gotten done. He said "what the hell do you need me for?" Told me what to do with the green wire and the rest is history... Now I can weld!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[nadogail]

...... Now I can weld!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Make lots of smoke and sparks

 

[checkthisout]

It is done...... I was waiting for an electrician from one of the jobs I was working on to call me and possibly come over. He did call me and I told him what I had gotten done. He said "what the hell do you need me for?" Told me what to do with the green wire and the rest is history... Now I can weld!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's nice but the wires aren't suppose aren't suppose to weld themselves together like that when you turn the breaker on.

 

[sberry]

The original was likely safe, hooking a red to a bar isnt the thing to do though and replacing it was a good thing. You can use 10 for the ground with wires to 6 and 60A.