I have several power tools that use 220 V and they have 3 bladed dryer plugs on them – two angled blades and one that is a L shaped.
Just bought another house and it’s time to wire in a plug. The handyman strung the wire – 10-3 w/g, but I’m confused as to how to wire the plug. Red and black to the two angled blades, but what to the L shaped blade? Any what to do with the ground wire? The tools use only 220V, and do not use 120V like a dryer.
There are only 3 inputs to the tools: 220, 220 and ground.
Replies
That is really the wrong recptacle.
Here is a chart showing the different standard series of plugs and recptacles.
You have 10 series (10-xx where xx is for the different current ratings).
It is an ungrounded 120/240 socket. In the past they where allowed for use with driers and ranges. But since 1996 (and older in some circumstances) new installations need to use a socket with which also inlcude the ground. For 120/240 circuits that is the 14 series.
For a 240 with ground you want the 6 series which is what you should have used in the first place. The ground connects to the round pin and the white is not used.
Red to one screw. Black to the other. The 'L' shaped blade get the bare or green ground wire. The white gets capped off in the box as it is not needed. It would go to a neutral connection had the tools or receptacle needed or used one as it would to run something on 120v.
Work it dead. After getting everything together check the voltages and for the presence of a ground at the receptacles. If everything seems OK plug in the tool and cautiously try it out. If it runs more slowly or lacks power recheck everything.
Bill
Thanks for your response. Couldn't view the chart you mentioned. Is there a link to it you could send?
[email protected]
I guess I forgot to post the link.
http://www.networkcable.com/pages/components/nema_nonlocking.html
Here is another one organized in a different way.
http://www.quail.com/locator/nema.htm
Edited 11/30/2002 8:29:31 AM ET by Bill Hartmann