I have recently got some 220 single phase wood tools. Older ones. A jointer, planer, shaper and I will rewire my table saw. The most amps of any of them is 16. I bought 12/3 Romex with ground and 4 wire plug / outlet. The tools all have 3 prongs. I assume there is no neutral on them? What's the best course to take for wiring? Should I still wire with 4 prong with future needs in mind? Can I put the 3 wire equipment in a 4 prong plug and just have a dummy prong? Can I do anything easy to add a 4th wire?
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Running 220 single phase
- Thread starter Beebazaar
- Start date
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The neutral won't be needed by any of that, but if you can't return the wire, might as well land it on the neutral bar in your panel and just cap it in the receptacle enclosure
Use 3 wire plugs and receptacles. Make sure they are the proper rating for the tool (voltage and current)
Use 3 wire plugs and receptacles. Make sure they are the proper rating for the tool (voltage and current)
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Nothing will be 4 wire. It really is very uncommon, especially in a workshop.Can I hook up the nuetral though in case anything in the future would be 4 wire? Would there be any harm in that? And use a 4 wire plug and just not have the neutral in the plug?
Its solving for a problem that really doesn't exist.
If you can return the 12/3 and change to 12/2, I would. It's a lot cheaper
Can you do what you listed? Sure. It's just a waste IMO
Ahh that makes sense then. I figured newer equipment might be 4 wire. Thanks for the help.
Out of curiosity, what dictates having a 4th wire? I installed a hot tub last fall and it's 4 wire single phase. But it's also 50 amp...
Out of curiosity, what dictates having a 4th wire? I installed a hot tub last fall and it's 4 wire single phase. But it's also 50 amp...
sparky 1971
Well-known member
Four wire would be 125/250. The neutral is there in order to make 120 volt power. Off the top of my head, besides the hot tub, all I can think of are ranges (50 amp) and dryers (30 amps). The controls, lights, and the dryer motor are all 120 volt, with the heating elements being 240. Big campers are also 120/240, but they are really two separate 120 volt feeds with a common neutral, no 240 volt loads that I am aware of. I know that there are 15 and 20 amp four wire devices, but I can't think of a single time I've needed one.Ahh that makes sense then. I figured newer equipment might be 4 wire. Thanks for the help.
Out of curiosity, what dictates having a 4th wire? I installed a hot tub last fall and it's 4 wire single phase. But it's also 50 amp...
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