answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

== == You are not allowed to change a four-wire outlet to a three wire outlet.

You can change a four wire cord to a three wire cord.

That is VERY different! === === <><><> I have answered this question at least 6 times. The 4 wire plug has a neutral and the 3 does not. An untrained homeowner who does their own Plumbing can flood the house with water or sewage, on the other hand electricity can kill instantly. I wouldn't want to gamble my family's lives on my incompetence. 3 wire plugs are old and outdated. Way back in the old days they didn't ground equipment so plugs didn't have a ground. (Remember the old 2 wire 110V outlets on houses built before the 50s?) A few people got killed so they decided to add a safety wire. It took them longer to catch on with heavy appliances, but eventually they did. That it what the fourth pin is. Since many homes still have the 3 wire plug it is allowed in older homes. New homes must use the new 4 wire plug. Changing your 4 wire cord to a 3 wire cord is the same as plugging a 3 wire 120V appliance into one of those 3 prong to two prong adapters they sell. Your appliance works now, but is ungrounded. Don't listen to anyone who says to replace the new up-to-code plug with an older plug. That is the same as replacing your 3 prong 120V outlets with old two prong outlets! Ignore anyone who tells you to do so, they think they know a lot more than they actually do. Buy a new cord. It is cheap and safer. IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

If you do this work yourself, always turn off the power

at the breaker box/fuse panel BEFORE you attempt to do any work AND

always use an electrician's test meter having metal-tipped probes

(not a simple proximity voltage indicator)

to insure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: If you can change a 4-wire to a 3-wire 240V outlet circuit then what was the purpose of having a 4-wire box in place to begin with?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What if your circuit breaker started tripping with no change of things plugged into an outlet Does this mean the circuit breaker needs to be replaced?

Circuit breakers can degrade over time but it would be better to get a competant electrician to do it. It might also mean you have too many things plugged into one outlet. Sometimes one circuit breaker may protect several outlets so it might be tripping because of a change in another outlet. ELECTRICTY IS DANGEROUS!!!! Don't do it yourself.


If one outlet on a circuit is not working will the entire circuit not work?

No


How do you dedicate a wall outlet?

A dedicated wall outlet is the only one on the circuit.


If your wall receptacle has tripped but not at the circuit breaker how can this problem be repaired?

If it's a GFCI receptacle and the button is not resetting then change the GFCI outlet.


Infer which type of circuit an outlet is part of?

Outlets are part of a "branch" circuit.


Can you change a 120v 15 amp outlet into a 30 amp?

You can't "change" the outlet to a 30 amp.The major limitation is the size of wire that feeds the outlet. A 15 amp circuit is typically run with 14 AWG wire. A 30 amp circuit must use 10 AWG wire.To add a 30 amp circuit you'll need to run a new wire, new outlet and connect it all to a new breaker.Always seek the services of a qualified electrician to make those kinds of changes. A mistake can lead to electrical fires and possibly death of someone in the home.


What if you did get paint inside an electrical outlet inside the slot and that outlet is no longer working?

The simple fix is turn the power to the receptacle off, change the receptacle out for a new one. Re energize the circuit and you are good to go.


Where is a reset located if not found on the outlet?

At the circuit beaker


What is the symbol for special-purpose outlets?

The symbol for special-purpose outlets can vary depending on the specific purpose. For example, the symbol for a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet is a rectangle with two vertical lines and a curved line inside. The symbol for an AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet typically includes a rectangle with the letters AFCI inside.


Do you get charged for having a socket outlet switched on?

In order to be billed for electricity, you have to have a flow of current. your electric meter is not unlike your water meter in this regard, it measures flow rate through it. An outlet that is not plugged in to anything that is on, or an empty socket that normally holds a bulb will not pass current. That means they are technically off. All a switch does is open an electrical circuit. To close a socket circuit you need a bulb. To close an outlet circuit, you need an appliance that is on (another switch may be involved).


Is a plug in a series or parallel circuit?

Every outlet in your house, and everything in your house that's plugged into an outlet, is in parallel.


Can you measure ohms from a live 115v AC outlet?

No, the circuit should not be energized when checking the resistance of a circuit.