system/36 awefully quiet...

From: Eric Smith <eric_at_brouhaha.com>
Date: Wed Nov 1 11:25:12 2000

> The phase shift is 180 degrees! :-) Yes, it's 220 VAC, center tapped
> and the center tap is tied to neutral (not ground). The neutrals aren't
> supposed to be tied to ground but a lot of people do it anyway.

Unless things are much different in Florida, the neutral is supposed to be
tied to ground in *exactly* one place for the entire building, and that
place is at the main breaker panel. So I assume you meant that people
add additional neutral-ground connections elsewhere, which is *bad*.

> FWIW here in Florida, the code requires that all new contruction use
> four conductor outlets for split phase 220 (one neutral, two hot and
> one ground).

Interesting. While I approve on the basis of it being more useful, I
don't understand why the building or electrical would require this.
It doesn't appear to offer any safety advantage.

I should rephrase that. Split phase with neutral doesn't offer any
safety advantage over correctly-used split-phase without neutral. But
I suppose if morons have been abusing the ground wire as a neutral, that
would be likely to burn down some buildings. So I suppose the code
has been updated in an attempt to avoid that situation.
Received on Wed Nov 01 2000 - 11:25:12 GMT