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Public Service Announcement: Don't assume that the electric
Posted on 4/8/16 at 12:00 pm
Posted on 4/8/16 at 12:00 pm
cord you bought years ago was up to snuff.
I was recently cleaning up my shop after years of packing in crap of all sorts. Found a 220v extension cord, which was kinda odd... 12/3, about fifteen feet long, looked like brand new cable and ends. I know I didn't make this cord up so I might have bought it at a yard sale or something at some point since 1998 when I built my shop. I literally have no idea, other than it wasn't my handiwork.
But oddly enough... as these things go, with one in hand I suddenly had a need for a 220v extension cord. I had to do a quick bump test on an electric motor that I had salvaged, 3HP 110/220v... 35A at 110v was a little sporty so I thought 220v would be a far better option. Also needed to test a new little DC inverter welder I bought. So... plugged her up and KA-POW
. As an electrical engineering sort of guy, I know that loud noises and ionized plasma sparks, followed by darkness in the building, are not preferred modes of operation.
So I switched modes into being the investigative sort. And what I found was scary. Again, this is on me since I... assumed. I should have checked the non-factory wiring myself. But... there's only ONE possible way to wire up a three prong single phase 220v plug, right? NOT IF YOU GET INVENTIVE. I literally said a prayer up for whoever wired this thing up, because they need an extra measure of mercy and grace to overcome their epic levels of electrical stupidity. I'm not sure you could get any more unsmart than this electrically, it would be tough.
Anyway, don't do this sort of thing. Please. If not for you, the next guy who picks it up.
I was recently cleaning up my shop after years of packing in crap of all sorts. Found a 220v extension cord, which was kinda odd... 12/3, about fifteen feet long, looked like brand new cable and ends. I know I didn't make this cord up so I might have bought it at a yard sale or something at some point since 1998 when I built my shop. I literally have no idea, other than it wasn't my handiwork.
But oddly enough... as these things go, with one in hand I suddenly had a need for a 220v extension cord. I had to do a quick bump test on an electric motor that I had salvaged, 3HP 110/220v... 35A at 110v was a little sporty so I thought 220v would be a far better option. Also needed to test a new little DC inverter welder I bought. So... plugged her up and KA-POW
. As an electrical engineering sort of guy, I know that loud noises and ionized plasma sparks, followed by darkness in the building, are not preferred modes of operation. So I switched modes into being the investigative sort. And what I found was scary. Again, this is on me since I... assumed. I should have checked the non-factory wiring myself. But... there's only ONE possible way to wire up a three prong single phase 220v plug, right? NOT IF YOU GET INVENTIVE. I literally said a prayer up for whoever wired this thing up, because they need an extra measure of mercy and grace to overcome their epic levels of electrical stupidity. I'm not sure you could get any more unsmart than this electrically, it would be tough.
Anyway, don't do this sort of thing. Please. If not for you, the next guy who picks it up.
5
Posted on 4/8/16 at 12:07 pm to iglass
That doesn't look like the correct NEMA configuration plug for 35A. For that amperage I wouldnt think that #12 wire would not carry enough amps even at 220V
Posted on 4/8/16 at 12:10 pm to iglass
Did someone set a trap for you or something? That shite is ridiculous.
Posted on 4/8/16 at 12:11 pm to iglass
Wow. What the actual frick?
Somebody trying to burn the place down for insurance money?
Somebody trying to burn the place down for insurance money?
This post was edited on 4/8/16 at 12:12 pm
Posted on 4/8/16 at 12:26 pm to JustGetItRight
This is what happens when a mechanical engineer (me) reads something like this. It's like when I read a sports page in Australia. I know what all the words mean by themselves. I just don't what they mean when they are put together this way.
I am assuming somebody did something wrong.
I am assuming somebody did something wrong.
Posted on 4/8/16 at 12:27 pm to mwlewis
quote:
mwlewis
That doesn't look like the correct NEMA configuration plug for 35A. For that amperage I wouldnt think that #12 wire would not carry enough amps even at 220V
Of course it isn't... for 115v. That configuration should be just fine for 250v/15A which is what the "dual sideways" plug is usually rated for.
The motor I was trying to bump was configurable to either 230A/17A or 115V/34A. So I left it wired up for 230v. All I wanted to do was momentarily bump the motor over to verify it didn't have any frozen bearings etc before I list this monster on Craigslist.
Edit: "Dual sideways" (NEMA 2-15)plug is rated for 250v/15A. Dual sideways WITH GROUND (NEMA 6-15/30) could be wired for either 250v/15A or 250v/30A. In any case, the wall outlet has a NEMA 6-20 configuration where one side has a horizontal plug, the other leg has a "T" plug slot - rated at 250v/20A. The physical wall wiring is 12 AWG on a 240V 20A breaker.
This post was edited on 4/8/16 at 12:45 pm
Posted on 4/8/16 at 12:30 pm to iglass
How is the other side wired up?
This post was edited on 4/8/16 at 12:32 pm
Posted on 4/8/16 at 12:30 pm to Ag Zwin
quote:
Ag Zwin
This is what happens when a mechanical engineer (me) reads something like this. It's like when I read a sports page in Australia. I know what all the words mean by themselves. I just don't what they mean when they are put together this way.
I am assuming somebody did something wrong.
It is ... extremely RARE ... to see a jumper inside a cord end plug housing. It's even rarer to see two opposite legs of a 220v connection tied together with that jumper because the second you plug it in, you have a direct short and your breaker will trip 100% of the time following that loud KAPOW we talked about.
This is one reason I think electricians out to be paid more than plumbers. :-)
Posted on 4/8/16 at 12:32 pm to DeoreDX
quote:
DeoreDX
How is the other side wired up?
Other end of the cord? Had some weird three pronged huge twistlock on it. Didn't even take a photo, I was too astounded to get past these at the time. At least there were no jumpers on the other end.
Posted on 4/8/16 at 3:20 pm to iglass
Holee shite!
That's not an accident. Somebody was trying to kill someone.
That's not an accident. Somebody was trying to kill someone.
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