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    JCNewman's Avatar
    JCNewman Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Sep 9, 2014, 02:50 PM
    Turn 4 wire 240v into 3 wire 240v
    My employer recently purchased a European piece of equipment for a specific work process. The equipment runs off 240v with a three wire connector. The equipment will be used in the field and we have a generator with a 30 Amp 120/240v twist lock connector (four wire). Are there any types of 30 Amp connectors that can combine two of the 120v wires into one 240v connector lead for use with the equipment? Are there any other electrical considerations to take into account for getting the process equipment to work with our existing generator?
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
     
    #2

    Sep 9, 2014, 05:58 PM
    The equipment runs off 240v with a three wire connector.
    There is no adapter that you could use.

    Most European countries have a 240 volt to ground electrical system. That means there is one hot wire with a 240 volt current and a neutral with zero voltage. The USA uses a 120 volt to ground system. You have two incoming hot leads each with 120 volts that are in opposite halves of the cycle. A negative 120 volts and a positive 120 volts gives you a total voltage difference of 240 volts.

    You generator produces the same 120 volts to ground with two hot legs.

    To use the equipment you employer must either purchase a step-up transformer or consult the manufacture's engineers to determine if the machine can be rewired to work on the US grid.

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