I am replacing my built-in oven & upon removing the old one, I discovered that it was connected to a 2-lead (+ ground) wire. They had the neutral lead & the ground from the oven connected to the ground lead from the service panel. They used the black & white leads for the two "hot" leads. There is a 220v breaker for this circuit. This oven was installed nearly 30 years ago but I suspect that this would not meet current code requirements.

Do I need to run a new 3-lead (+ ground) from the service panel to the oven or can I hook it up the way the old one was?

G. Morrison

GO TO your Local power co. and talk to one of the eng. And they will give you what the local electrical codes are for this also check the instructions that came with the new unit ,the wireing diagrame . I can tell you that in this state, you could not use the existing wireing. Also I believe that the instructions will say alarger wire is req.yopu may need to get a permit, and have a licensed electrician to do the work: Most home fires are caused by electrictrical. Please stay SAFE: Have a good day

The National Electric Code 2005 Section 250.140 Exception allows existing 3 wire feeders to use both the neutral and equipoment groiund to be one wire and ground the frame of the appliance.

Local codes may require a 3 wire feeder to be repalced with a new 4 wire with separate neutral and ground.

Bset to check with your local code enforecemtn office to be sure.

If the new oven has a light and maybe a timer using 115 volts, you will have to run a new 3 conductor with ground. If the instructions don't specify a wire and breaker size, post the wattage here and tkrussell will give you an answer that your local inspector, if any, will like. If you follow his insurrections, there is no reason you can't do a safe, code compliant job. Even if your local code is slack, you still want to follow safe practices.

If you have unfinished area between your breaker box and the interior wall next to the oven, running new wire shouldn't be too bad. Otherwise, you may as well chop up the dry wall yourself or tack up tacky surface mount wiring.

I have a German Wash machine which is for 220 volts @50hz. Can I hook this machine here in North America?