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    tbrunye's Avatar
    tbrunye Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    May 16, 2010, 02:30 PM
    Wiring 240v wall heater to a 3-prong dryer outlet?
    Hello -

    I am installing a 240V wall heater in my basement. I want to plug it directly into the existing 3-prong 240V outlet that is used for the dryer. I have run the 10/2 wire (two hot and a ground) from the heater to the outlet, but need some help figuring out how to hook this up.

    From what I understand, the 3-prong outlet has two hot lines and a neutral. The heater requires two hot lines and a ground.

    So, I was going to run the two hot wires from the outlet directly to the heater. That seems pretty straight-forward. But what do I do about the ground? The heater requires a ground connected to its frame, but I don't think I can simply connect the ground wire to the neutral on the outlet. I might be wrong!

    Should I connect the ground wire to the outlet neutral? Connect the neutral to the metal wiring box at the outlet side? Leave off the ground (probably a bad idea!).

    Any help would be great!
    Missouri Bound's Avatar
    Missouri Bound Posts: 1,532, Reputation: 94
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    #2

    May 16, 2010, 08:27 PM
    If the neutral wire is connected to a buss which shares the ground wires, then you are OK. You will have to verify that. And no, you should not leave off the ground wire... it is there for a purpose. Is your heater intended to be plugged in, or is it supposed to be hard wired?
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
     
    #3

    May 16, 2010, 09:33 PM

    If you have a 3 slot dryer outlet, (cable will be 10/2 with ground) the third slot is a ground, not a neutral.
    tbrunye's Avatar
    tbrunye Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    May 17, 2010, 02:42 AM

    MISSOURIBOUND - The heater is supposed to be hard wired, but I don't want to run another 240V line. Basically, the heater will only be plugged into the outlet when we have a guest staying in the finished basement, otherwise the dryer will be plugged in. I have done 10/2 wire from the heater through conduit across the basement to the room with the outlet. There I will connect the 10/2 wire to a 30A 3-prong dryer plug so that we can swap whether the heater or dryer is plugged in, at will.

    HKSTROUD - Thank you for your response, I will try to use what I thought was the neutral as a ground and see whether it works.
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
     
    #5

    May 17, 2010, 04:56 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by hkstroud View Post
    If you have a 3 slot dryer outlet, (cable will be 10/2 with ground) the third slot is a ground, not a neutral.
    HK, The odd slot in a 3-prong dryer receptacle is a neutral, NOT a ground.

    The old code allowed the neutral to serve the purpose of both neutral and ground, not the other way around.
    tbrunye's Avatar
    tbrunye Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    May 17, 2010, 02:51 PM

    My house was built in 1987, so I am assuming it's still the old code? That is, the 3-prong dryer receptacle neutral can serve the purpose of both neutral and ground?

    Thanks for any confirmation - I'm not sure what would happen if I'm wrong about this, but I would rather prevent testing it!
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
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    #7

    May 17, 2010, 04:28 PM

    Oops!! Sorry, don't know what I was thinking. Must have been thinking water heaters. Won't let happen again.
    tbrunye's Avatar
    tbrunye Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #8

    May 17, 2010, 04:37 PM

    HKSTROUD - are they interchangeable? Can I use the neutral as a ground?

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