[Red Squirrel]

Does x mean 120v hot and y mean 240v hot? This is what I'm guessing, but just want to check to make sure. I'm going to be installing a dryer plug and I know where ground and neutral go as they are marked, and ground is quite obvious just by the shape alone, but the other two line terminals are just labeled x and y.

 

[InPhase277]

Does x mean 120v hot and y mean 240v hot? This is what I'm guessing, but just want to check to make sure. I'm going to be installing a dryer plug and I know where ground and neutral go as they are marked, and ground is quite obvious just by the shape alone, but the other two line terminals are just labeled x and y.

That's just the marking indicating a "phase" wire. In other words, one hot wire in X, and the other hot wire in Y. If it was three phase it would be X, Y, and Z. It doesn't matter which hot goes to what terminal on that dryer receptacle.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

 

[Red Squirrel]

That's just the marking indicating a "phase" wire. In other words, one hot wire in X, and the other hot wire in Y. If it was three phase it would be X, Y, and Z. It doesn't matter which hot goes to what terminal on that dryer receptacle.

I was wondering if I could put either or, but then figured there must be a right way. Guess it does not really matter as they're both hot anyway, and from each end it's 240 volt anyway, and from one of the ends to top (neutral) is 120 right? So basically same as oven.

 

[InPhase277]

I was wondering if I could put either or, but then figured there must be a right way. Guess it does not really matter as they're both hot anyway, and from each end it's 240 volt anyway, and from one of the ends to top (neutral) is 120 right? So basically same as oven.

Yes. Single phase equipment doesn't know, and doesn't care which wire is which.

 

[InPhase277]

5 cm. But I'm glad you found it.

 

[zpm]

Good answer. I guess that explains the F you got in geometry class.:jester:

 

[Speedy Petey]

5 cm. But I'm glad you found it.

OK, but what's that called? :whistling2:

 

[Red Squirrel]

OK, but what's that called? :whistling2:

A line. :laughing:

Actually think there's a term for it, I forget. Think it's like hypotenuse or something like that.

Math is not my thing.

 

[kbsparky]

Go back and watch the "Wizard of Oz" movie, and catch the scene right after the scarecrow obtains his brain. His response is to try to recite the pythagorean theorem..... albeit incorrectly .... :wink:

 

[kbsparky]

Does x mean 120v hot and y mean 240v hot? This is what I'm guessing, but just want to check to make sure. I'm going to be installing a dryer plug and I know where ground and neutral go as they are marked, and ground is quite obvious just by the shape alone, but the other two line terminals are just labeled x and y.

When installing a NEMA 14-30 device, such as your dryer receptacle, the terminals should be marked W X Y and G.

If you were installing a NEMA 15-30 device, which does not have a neutral, the terminals would be marked X Y Z and G.

In each case, the X Y or Z terminals designate "hot" lines. The use of W indicates a white or neutral connection, and G always is for the grounding connection.

 

[Speedy Petey]

That's it.
Bonus points for the W of Oz reference. :thumbsup:

 

[InPhase277]

That's it.
Bonus points for the W of Oz reference. :thumbsup:

That's how we all knew that the Wizard was a fraud. And as Professor Marvel, he was luring little girls into his trailer for "fortune telling. Hmmm...

 

[Yoyizit]

http://www.google.com/search?client...rd+of+oz"+parable+political&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

 

[Mike in Arkansas]

It's imperative that the two hot wires be connected to the proper x and y terminal. If they are connected incorrectly, the dryer will work in reverse and blow cold air instead of hot. If you find your clothes frozen stiff as a board reverse the two wires. That is why virtually all freezers and refrigerators are 115 volts. Only one way to wire them up. Otherwise half the people would wire them backwards and cook the stored food rather than preserve it. No need to thank me for providing this information. I've learned so much from others here on this forum I'm just happy to be able to return the favor.:wink:

 

[99BN99]

Mike, the clothes go stiff because the heat in the room air being sucked into the dryer is being used to run a generator. Wiring it backwards generates electricity. In some jurisdictions one can receive heavy fines or even jail time for generating electricity without a license/permit, in addition to the required business licenses & permits. (licenses for generators and licenses for distribution)

The advantage and disadvantage of using a natural gas dryer is that this cannot happen; they only work one way.

 

[jerryh3]

It's imperative that the two hot wires be connected to the proper x and y terminal. If they are connected incorrectly, the dryer will work in reverse and blow cold air instead of hot. If you find your clothes frozen stiff as a board reverse the two wires. That is why virtually all freezers and refrigerators are 115 volts. Only one way to wire them up. Otherwise half the people would wire them backwards and cook the stored food rather than preserve it. No need to thank me for providing this information. I've learned so much from others here on this forum I'm just happy to be able to return the favor.:wink:

Is that the same way heat pumps work?

 

[williswires]

It's imperative that the two hot wires be connected to the proper x and y terminal. If they are connected incorrectly, the dryer will work in reverse and blow cold air instead of hot. If you find your clothes frozen stiff as a board reverse the two wires. That is why virtually all freezers and refrigerators are 115 volts. Only one way to wire them up. Otherwise half the people would wire them backwards and cook the stored food rather than preserve it. No need to thank me for providing this information. I've learned so much from others here on this forum I'm just happy to be able to return the favor.:wink:

You certainly didn't learn that on this forum...well, you didn't learn it from those who know electricity, anyway...

Mike, the clothes go stiff because the heat in the room air being sucked into the dryer is being used to run a generator. Wiring it backwards generates electricity. In some jurisdictions one can receive heavy fines or even jail time for generating electricity without a license/permit, in addition to the required business licenses & permits. (licenses for generators and licenses for distribution)

The advantage and disadvantage of using a natural gas dryer is that this cannot happen; they only work one way.

...uh, ... yeah... well, hopefully the OP can tell the correct answer from the BS :laughing:

 

[Speedy Petey]

You certainly didn't learn that on this forum...well, you didn't learn it from those who know electricity, anyway...



...uh, ... yeah... well, hopefully the OP can tell the correct answer from the BS :laughing:

Willis, if the OP cannot tell the joking from the real answers in this thread then they should not be touching electrical. :whistling2: :laughing:

 

[Red Squirrel]

Willis, if the OP cannot tell the joking from the real answers in this thread then they should not be touching electrical. :whistling2: :laughing:

Oh shoot, I was about to patent an all purpose freeze/cook device by modifying a fridge to use a toggle switch and reverse the hot and neutral! You just bursted my bubble!

But yeah, knew it was a joke, reversing AC does not really do much. It changes 60 times a second anyway. Just need to get neutral and hot correctly as it's hooked up a certain way at the panel and hot is what is "cut" when a switch or breaker is thrown, so you don't want neutral having any power to it on it's own.