shlbydaytona89
DIY
I have a question understanding the difference between 220 volt outlets and 240 volt outlets. I saw a video online of someone adding, as the video describes, 220 volt outlets to their shop. He opens the panel, and obviously by means of a double breaker, connects both hot poles in the panel, each having 120 volts. He wires the outlet and ends up getting 240 volts at the outlet he installs (120 + 120= 240). So then why is he referring to that outlet as a 220 volt outlet? This question is not just from this video by the way but everywhere I've researched this but can't get an explanation why. Are 220and 240 volts the same? why call it a 220 volt outlet when you have 240 volts there? The reason I ask this is because I have a 240 volt outlet (with a 30 Amp breaker) installed in my garage (i just tested it with a meter and I actually get around 250 volts). I am installing an Automotive lift in my garage and the specs for the power unit specifically say its powered by 220 Volt (single phase) 60 Hz (+/- 5%, so 209-231 volts). 1) Will the outlet in my garage work with this power supply or will I have to swap out outlets in my garage to a specific one for 220V? 2) The outlet Installed in my garage has 3 prongs: 2 hot wires from the breaker and 1 neutral wire. Should the metal outlet box, housing the outlet, be grounded to the ground side in the panel box? (wire going from ground bar in panel box to ground screw inside the box) (i didn't install this outlet, but the green ground wire is not connected in the panel box but just in there with a butt connector on the end). I've always grounded 120 in that way but wasn't sure if 240 is different, as thebreason the green ground is disconnected. Thanks everyone |
