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JonLaw

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I have a 220v 50.amp 3 prong outlet that my dryer is using. I am trying to wire a control panel main power plug.
I opened up the wall outlet, the wires In side are bk, bk, and a ground.
How do I convert the wall outlet to a 4 prong outlet for my main control panel power? Thanks
 
You can get a GFCI spa panel and use the 3 in, 4 out wiring technique. There are diagrams posted on this forum for that. Recognize that there are some factors to consider, but it will work. I wrote this a few years ago to try to sum it up.

If you can run a dedicated ground from the main panel to the spa panel, or rewire with 4 wires from the main panel, then do it. That is a clean solution.

Now, if you are going to wire the spa panel with H-H-N in, bond the N and G to the spa panel chassis, run H-H-N-G out to the control panel, and wire both 120V and 240V in your control panel:

Will it work? Yes.

Does it conform to code? If you were to hardwire it as part of your house wiring, it does not conform to code, as the spa panel is not a grandfathered device that allows bonding N and G (more precisely, allows connecting the frame of the device to neutral, and using the neutral as the grounding conductor for that device). If you were to make the spa panel a "pluggable" device, you have not changed your house wiring, so you have not violated code with your house wiring. However, you have built a device (the spa panel) that does not qualify as grandfathered, and certainly violates the spirit of the code if not the letter.

Is it dangerous? Risk is relative. In a worst case scenario, say your control panel neutral comes loose and gets good contact with your control panel ground, and the GFCI in the spa panel fails, your spa panel chassis could be conducting 120V. If you were touching it and you were the shortest path to ground, then you would carry the current. This may be unlikely, but it is basically a variation of the scenario that led the NEC to change the code and require a dedicated ground wire. Incidentally, if you have a 3-wire dryer or range, the same scenario is possible if the neutral is compromised and you become the ground path. One could argue that these pose even more risk, because there is no GFCI protection to detect that the neutral is compromised and kill the power.

Understand the risks, and make your own decision. I would say you should really try to go with a dedicated ground. If you choose to use the 3-in, 4-out, spa panel solution, recognize that you are taking some risks that you can mitigate some by always testing that your GFCI is functioning, by putting the spa panel somewhere where neither you nor anyone else is likely to touch it while energized, and by neither selling, lending, nor giving the system to anyone else who does not understand the risks.

I sincerely hope that I succeeded in my attempt to discuss this issue in a balanced manner.
 
Jeff
Thank you for your help. I can not run a dedicated ground as I live in an apartment. I would like to but I can't.
Can I jump the N and the G by using a extra peace of wire?
I have started to build a E Herms control panel at 240v 50 amp. I vary quickly realized that this is over my head. I'm thinking about scraping my project. :(
 
Jeff
Thank you for your help. I can not run a dedicated ground as I live in an apartment. I would like to but I can't.
Can I jump the N and the G by using a extra peace of wire?
I have started to build a E Herms control panel at 240v 50 amp. I vary quickly realized that this is over my head. I'm thinking about scraping my project. :(

No...I would not jump them even in house I own.

Don't scrap the project. What is described costs maybe $100-150 and requires almost no skill as an electrician. Mount the spa panel to a board with your E-herms panel.

The E-Herms panel is much more challenging.
 
I'm not trying to be a flame thrower, but giving that advice to someone who has no experience at all with electricity is negligent and wrong. The proper answer if wanting to go all electric is to go straight 240 for control and element power and add a separate plug to derive 120 from another circuit in the house for pumps. You can get all of the necessary components in 240. PID's, pilot lights etc. There are plenty of threads on this on the forum. Bottom line, that advice given to someone that results in injury and death is taking on a lot of undo liability.
 
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