TexasTimbers

Dog, Brad is correct. there is no neutral line with 3 wire 240v systems.

On newer aplliances that use the 4 prong plugs that is essentially what you have. But there is no bonding strap to the chassis from the nuetral only the gorund. But the indipendent nuetral on newer plugs have no role in providing the power to the motor, it's just an added safety feature that the code writers used to justify their jobs every 3 years or so whenever they write a new one.

On 120v both the neutral and the ground are attached to the exact same place. The earth, via an 8' copper grounding rod. That's true on 240v 4 prong plugs also.

Think of nuetral on a 120v system as helping to carry the electrons from the earth, through the windings, where they go back to earth via the "hot" leg, or vice versa. Think of the ground as a wire that will trip the breaker if it ever "sees" any voltage, because the ground wire is not ever supposed to have voltage "on" it, although you can read volatge from ground to any live wire. On a 240v system, there are already two wires involved in the transporting of electrons and there is no way to use another one for that purpose, until you get into 3 phase. So, think of it that way, even though an engineer would rip me a new one for explaining it that way.

Bottom line is on this machine his wiring looks correct. Two 120v hots (180 out of phase with each other) and a ground is all you need.

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Flame Box Elder

nitro3421

I figured it out! I had the wiring on the actual plug mixed up. I am color blind and mixed up the gray/ "creme" colored wires.... Thanks for the help you guys!

TexasTimbers

I have N - E - V - E - R done such a thing!

Glad you got it working. Does it cut butter, now I mean better?

Good job. You'll recieve your Electricians Certificate from The School of Hard Knocks in the mail in about a week.

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Flame Box Elder

Hack

While you've got that box open, it might be a good time to clean up that ground connection inside the box. It almost looks like it's rusty...

Since there's no neutral, you need to make sure that ground is SOLID!

Glad you figured out the wiring problem...

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Hack (a.k.a. Jeff)

Harddog Wood

Just for the record, I was wrong, so wrong. Thank you guys for not only telling me tactfully but explaining my incorrectness. Along with the explanations you gave and a little research on the internet, I was able to get it into my thick skull. Thanks again, Hardhead, I mean Harddog

nitro3421

Yup, it really does cut better/like butter! I'll take a look at the ground before its next use. Thanks again guys