220-volt outlet, incorrect voltage -- effect on dryer? I've had one dryer basically burn out, and a second one runs...
I've had one dryer basically burn out, and a second one runs but does not grill. (The first one was a more conventional one, while the second one is a very electronic Whirlpool Senseon.)
A friend be here to try to diagnose the problem yesterday. He found nothing wrong with the dryer, but he tested the outlet next to his meter and found 116 volts on one side -- and 232 volts on the other. He tested the connections at the breaker box as well, and found 116 volts on both sides at the box.
- What could cause the voltage at the outlet to vary from what it is at the box?
- Could the excess voltage at the outlet explain the problems I've had with two dryers?
ordinary voltage in the United States is single phase 60 Hertz 120/240 volts for households.
If you assessment something different at the circuit box then there may be a problem beside what the electric company is supplying to your home. They could be having a problem with the local transformer and not know it.
I suggest you bid the electric supplier and explain the problem. It will cost you notheing to insure that at least at that end you are getting the correct product.
Double check the wiring at the plug and the breaker box. It appears it may not be properly wired. You should own two hot leads (black) one from each side of the breaker, a return (white) to the nonpartisan buss, and a green to the ground buss. When wired properly, you should read approximately 110V between each hot and neutral, and 220V across the hot lead. Ground will be at the same potential as the neutral. Do NOT hook up the dryer until you are sure it is correct! Good Luck
Note: Newer dryers require a four cable connection as opposed to the elder three wire connection. If this is an elder house, (15yr), your connection needs to be rewired to the newer code. you probably hold an open neutral somewhere contained by the circuit leading to the dryer. newer houses (post 1996) have 4 rope dryer cord and plug sets. check that all connections are continuous to the panel. if you have the elder 3 wire dryer cord and plug set you may have to look within the jbox behind the dryer plug. the neutral lead for the dryer is bonded to ground in the jbox by a screw or other means. if this bond is broken it can bring the problem you describe.
Call in the expert, self diagnosis will not solve your problem. Not ample info. We need to make sure we're on indistinguishable page when we talk about "one side" or "the other". Let's see if I can explain this near ASCII symbols. Here is a 30 amp dryer plug:
/ \
L
The "L" in my drawing is probably backwards. Your outlet maybe upside down or sideways. The position on the wall or the floor make no difference. What DOES matter is that each "leg" of the outlet is connected to the service panel correctly.
Each "/" or "\" is HOT power. You MUST own 230 AC volts when measuring BETWEEN these two legs. The "L" is neutral. You MUST enjoy no more than 116 AC volts when measuring BETWEEN "L" and ONE of the other legs. If voltages are wrong at this point (most likely) stop and hire an electrician to properly wire the outlet if you, or your friend, can't do it.
If the voltages are RIGHT the pigtail perchance wired wrong on the dryer. This is a rather difficult thing to mess up and, if it's the casing, it sounds like more than one dryer may have be wired wrong (which makes this scenario even more unlikely).
SO... first I want to know what the voltage is on the outlet between the "/" and "\" legs, then we'll proceed.
Brian
You run two hot wires to the dryer that are 110 and that give you the 220 when you run them on the dryer. Sounds normal to me. phase to phase you should have 230 phase to ground you should own 115 i don't understand your problem
Answers: Your friend might be measure the voltage incorrectly. Go with what Brian J told you. Across the two hot terminals you should guess 230 - 240VAC and from either of the hot terminals to colourless (L shaped) should be 115 - 120VAC. I don't believe you have excess voltage, possibly the outlet wired incorrectly.