220v dryer outlet wired wrong, wtf?!

[HOMONER]

I would not expect a mis-wired ground to damage a breaker - in many older homes, the neutral and ground bars are tied together anyways. If it's a 4 wire 220, that has two hot wires, a neutral, and a ground, correct?

Yes, there is potential for a shock hazard, however its probably low.

Hey thanks for the reply. It helps to get some insights.
Yes, 4 wire black/red/white/ground ... they are all wired correct and tight on the inside panel and the plug ...

 

[HOMONER]

Ok, thanks for the insights ... I am now thinking the breaker may have been on the way out anyhow ... there were some old 220 lines with a 50 & 30 amp breaker on that outside box that went out to a pole in the yard. I had looked that over after moving in and turned those breakers off as the boxes on that pole were not water tight and ants had built a condo in it. Those breakers were off when the main went so that was not high on my list of what took it out. The electric company techs that came out to disconnect the power so the breaker could be fixed said it looked like an older GFI type. Maybe those other lines on the box had done some damage to it in the past. I had the electrician remove them so the new box just has the 200amp to the home now.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Things can get real fun when you have a broken neutral at the pole. Called a floating neutral and really weird things can happen. It basically puts both 120v legs in series at 240v.

 

[MtnMan]

Things can get real fun when you have a broken neutral at the pole. Called a floating neutral and really weird things can happen. It basically puts both 120v legs in series at 240v.

And a heavy load on one leg will raise the voltage on the other leg. I've seen it cause 60 - 70V on one leg, 170 - 180V on the other leg.

 

[Greenman]

Things can get real fun when you have a broken neutral at the pole. Called a floating neutral and really weird things can happen. It basically puts both 120v legs in series at 240v.

If the neutral is broken at the poll the house neutral will still work through the ground at the service entrance. In a very old home that doesn't have a GES is when things would get messy.

 

[Red Squirrel]

If the neutral is broken at the poll the house neutral will still work through the ground at the service entrance. In a very old home that doesn't have a GES is when things would get messy.

True, maybe at the pole was wrong word to use. Meant if ground is severed period and is floating, basically.

But yeah there's usually some redundancy as it's grounded at pole and at house and think even if both grounds failed as long as the neutral to the transformer is intact it would be safe...ish.

 

[HOMONER]

Neutral grounding won't damage a breaker, but it's contrary to code because in certain circumstances it can energize the appliance.

Thanks ..that answers that question so I can put that to rest and look elsewhere.

 

[Sukhoi]

Things can get real fun when you have a broken neutral at the pole. Called a floating neutral and really weird things can happen. It basically puts both 120v legs in series at 240v.

Had a loose neutral happen at a prior house. PG&E was there 15 min after I called to say that our lights were getting brighter when the dryer was running lol.