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Quick answer is that 220v does not use or need a neutral. The original concept of the neutral (going back to Edison and DC power) was cutting the power in half (not really accurate but one way to look at it). Think about two 110v batteries in series the neutral would come off the connection between the two batteries. so current flow would go from +110 to -110 (first battery) to +110 to -110 (second battery) resulting in 220 output. The connection between the batteries (the neutral) is +110 / -110 resulting in 0. If you want a 110 current instead of using the full flow you could instead use only 'one side' and the neutral and get the 110. When we made the move from DC to AC the basics of this format was kept. So for 110v you need hot and neutral (and a ground) for 220v you need two hots (no neutral) and a ground.

HUGE CATCH - WARNING - WARNING!!!

Just because you think your equipment is 220v doesn't mean everything it does it does requires 220v for example: some equipment uses 220v for the motor and 110v for the rest of its electrical needs (Dryers are a typical example). In the old days, the dryer would use the two hots (and ground for safety) for 220v and then use one hot and ground (no 'safety' ground) for 110v. However, people often got shocked because this unsafe method would often cause the entire metal chassis to take on a charge. So todays dryers (and any other machine that has both 220v and 110v components) have and are required to have 2 hots ground and neutral. However, the documentation isn't always specific about the '110v need' and a lot of 220v only equipment will still have 4 wire connections even though the neutral is not needed.

If you are sure your equipment never utilizes 110v - then you don't need a neutral (a single motor, no thrills (control panel, laser guides, etc), 220v table saw would be fine with out a neutral (one with the thrills may be fine also - depends on the power requirement of the 'thrills'). I don't know about your generator is depends if it is strictly 220v.

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Q: Do you need a neutral wire for 220v generator?
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