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Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz power supply service.Once upon a time, this was legal and routinely done, especially on electric dryers. It is no longer legal anywhere that I know of.

If your equipment is grounded using a separate ground wire, and the neutral wire breaks, the appliance may not function, but no one will be hurt.

If, on the other hand, you use the ground wire as the neutral, and it breaks, IF THE APPLIANCE HAS A METAL CHASSIS AND/OR CASING CONNECTED TO THE GROUND WIRE IT WILL BECOME LIVE!Anyone touching it could be killed!

It's just not worth saving a few dollars over. Buy and install the proper 4-conductor cable (called 3-wire with ground) and be safe.

A different take from a professional appliance installer and electrician:

Up until the mid to late 1980's the ground and neutral were tied to the same bar in the panel. So unless someone who has a house built prior to this has had a complete electrical service rebuild the ground and neutral of all of the circuits are connected to the same place.

If you have an older home and there are only three wires feeding a 220v appliance the ground and neutral are interchangable. In fact, if the unit had two hots, a neutral and a ground, the ground and neutral were tied together. This is still acceptable practice and is diagrammed in the specifications for every appliance appliance that I am aware of. (Only Miele for a time was particular about not mixing the ground and neutral, although they could never tell me why it mattered. They have since dropped that requirement).

There are a lot of new 220v appliances that have only three wires. Usually two hots and a ground. It would be perfectly fine to hook the ground to the neutral if that was all you had.

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As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

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Can you use ohm-meter to measure a resistance between the neutral line N and the ground E?

If the meter is sensitive enough and there is a resistance between the neutral and ground then the meter should be able to detect it.


Can you use the earth wire between room stat and honeywell board as a neutral?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!The protective earth ground wire is only there to provide a low resistance path to ground in the event of a short circuit so as to trip the protective device. Operational current is never, under any circumstances allowed to be passed on earth ground. Use neutral for neutral and ground for ground.CONSULT A QUALIFIED AND LICENSED ELECTRICIAN !!!!


Why neutral ground voltage is 120v sometime 0v?

There should be no voltage on the neutral wire to ground. This is a serious situation. Call a qualified electrician to check this out.


Can you glow led by using neutral and earth?

If you connected neutral and earth (ground) to each lead in an LED and it glowed then this would be evidence of a ground fault.


Is a ground fault protection for equipment required even if the neutral will not be used?

Yes, ground fault protection for equipment is requiredeven if the neutral will not be used.However, the question implies that it might not be required if there is a neutral. That is not true. With two exceptions, ground fault protection is always required in the US, and it is probably required in other countries as well.The exceptions are the use of an electric cooking range, and an electric clothes dryer. In those cases, the US NEC allows the neutral conductor to also be the ground fault conductor, except for the case where the range or dryer is in a mobile home. In the case of the mobile home, the ground fault conductor and the neutral conductor must be maintained separate and distinct all the way back to the distribution panel.In every other case, including where local code overrides the US NEC's exceptions, it must be understood that ground fault protection (protective earth ground) is not the same as neutral, even though the neutral conductor is grounded.

Related Questions

Does all romex have a ground wire?

Some older wire does not have a ground. All you can do in that case is use a jumper wire to connect the ground to the neutral.


Can you use ohm-meter to measure a resistance between the neutral line N and the ground E?

If the meter is sensitive enough and there is a resistance between the neutral and ground then the meter should be able to detect it.


Can you use the earth wire between room stat and honeywell board as a neutral?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!The protective earth ground wire is only there to provide a low resistance path to ground in the event of a short circuit so as to trip the protective device. Operational current is never, under any circumstances allowed to be passed on earth ground. Use neutral for neutral and ground for ground.CONSULT A QUALIFIED AND LICENSED ELECTRICIAN !!!!


Why you use neutral pin in three pin plug?

In North America the neutral pin is used to complete the circuit. One pin is "hot", one pin is neutral and the last pin is ground.


Is it advisable to use line to neutral power supply on a single phase residential area when the safety is concern?

line to line or line to neutral is the only way to use power line to ground if a FAULT current in the ground is a problem that needs to be corrected, an insulation fault


Difference between ground and neutral?

As i know,neutral is the return path of current &amp; ground is for any leakage current


What is the difference between a neutral bar and a ground bar in an electrical panel?

A neutral bar is where the neutral wires from the circuits are connected, while a ground bar is where the ground wires are connected. The neutral bar carries the current back to the power source, while the ground bar provides a path for excess electricity to safely dissipate into the ground.


What is the significance of the neutral to ground voltage in electrical systems?

The neutral to ground voltage in electrical systems is important because it helps to ensure the safety of the system. When the neutral to ground voltage is at the correct level, it means that there is a proper connection between the neutral and ground wires, which helps to prevent electrical shocks and fires. Monitoring and maintaining the neutral to ground voltage is crucial for the overall safety and functionality of an electrical system.


How can you tell if the ground wire is approriately bonded to the neutral and the cabinet at the service box?

Ground wire can be appropriately bonded to the neutral and cabinet at the service box by connecting the neutral and ground wires from the feeder wires to the neutral bus bar and the ground terminal located on the same cabinet at the service box. White wire (neutral) must be connected to bus bar and bare wire must be connected to ground terminal in the same cabinet.


Why does your panel have a neutral but no ground?

Just checked and it does have a ground connection.


Can a green wire be used for a neutral?

'Can' yes. 'Should' no. &lt;&lt;&gt;&gt; Never use a green wire for a neutral. It is colour coded for a reason and that is to protect the people that work on electrical equipment. If you turn a ground wire into a neutral it then becomes a current carrying conductor. There are times in the electrical trade when grounds have to be disconnected and if it is used as a neutral and the tradesman is holding one end and touching a grounded object a shock will occur. Again never use a green ground wire as a neutral.


What two colors may be used for the ground conductor neutral?

What two colors may be used for the ground conductor (neutral)