skip to main content

Electrical Wiring

Red wire indicates hot or ground?

17 years ago

I am a little confused about some wiring in my place. The outlets in the kitchen are on a 20 amp circuit with 12 gage wire. The GFCI outlet indicates that it is 240V and the rest of the outlets down the line are connected to this GFCI outlet. There are white, black and red wires in conduit. Is the red wire another hot because it is 240V or would it be a ground wire?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

bus_driver
17 years ago
Exactly how is it indicated as 240 volts? Can you post a picture?
peeler
17 years ago
If you are in America, 240V would not be supplied to any conventional outlet. The red wire in your conduit is likely a hot feed. Any single red or black wire with repsect to neutral white or ground bare copper / green would measure 120V. The red wire may be a switched wire on the same circuit or part of another circuit altogether. Who knows. A Fluke brand volt meter might be a nice investment if you are getting interested in electronics.
Related Discussions
hot to ground continuity
Q
Comments (3)
Ground to ground should be continuous and connected to nothing else. If you are *POSITIVE* that there are no splices or junctions in the cable you're testing, something seriously is wrong. Look for signs of physical damage (something cutting in or a screw going through).
...See More
hot ground?
Q
Comments (19)
"I would NOT find continuity between white and black, because I would NOT use the tester on a live circuit." Depending on what the LOADS on the circuit are (even if the circuit is OFF) you can easily find continuity between a black and a white wire. After 40+ years working on wiring, I do not even have a continuity tester in my tool bag, and would be hard pressed to even find one in the 'junk drawer'. Continuity testers are only useful in finding shorts and opens in clearly defined circuits. As noted above, you tester may even light on a circuit that has a light bulb present between black and white. You are WAY over your head. (sorry) Go purchase 'Wiring Simplified' (Black & Decker) and read it carefully. There are regretfully only a very few ways to do wiring correctly, and hundreds of ways to get it wrong. Troubleshooting wiring is one of the places that even experienced electricians and engineers get things wrong. There are all sorts of 'sneak paths' present in circuits even when they are turned off like the night light in the upstairs hallway on the off circuit. EVERY load plugged in and connected on the circuit is between the black and white wires. You can try and search for every one and unplug them, but Murphy never sleeps and you WILL miss one. It might even be the one that has either no on/off switch (a door bell transformer) or the one with a broken switch. When real trouble shooting is required a volt-ohm meter and an extension cord are common aids to figuring out what is connected to what after disconnecting the wires from the circuit.
...See More
Wiring GFI to Hot Tub
Q
Comments (10)
Brickeyee, I agree with you but I think I do have it hooked up correctly. I think the GFCI breaker may be defective. I guess that is my actual question. I'll reiterate how I have it hooked up. Black and red from the house 50 amp breaker to the inputs of the GFCI. Red and black from the GFCI breaker to red and black on the hot tub. Neutral from the hot tub to the neutral on the GFCI. Ground from the hot tub to ground bus in the house. Now if you think that is incorrect please tell me what is incorrect don't just treat me like some kind of fool. Thanks
...See More
Wiring a 4 wire hot tub to a 3 wire circuit
Q
Comments (30)
Is there anyone on this thread still? Here is my issue. Bought an older 2 person tub. It has a 4 wire seemingly 220 wire coming from tub--goes in to a timer box where the terminals are dbl and tripled up going through those circuits--then the plug for that box coming out of it is a 110 plug and that is the only plug giving power to the tub through the timer box. Has this tub effectively been already wired for a 125 /110outlet and I can just plug and play? Am I safe considering the 125 plug does have a built in ground through it?
...See More
brickeyee
17 years ago
"If you are in America, 240V would not be supplied to any conventional outlet."

240 V could easily be present on a single 120 V duplex receptacle on a multi-wire circuit.
120 V from eother hot to neutral, and 240 V betwenthe hots connected to seperate screws on the duplex withthet tqab broken between them.
Relatively common as a method of saving wire.
kris1045
Original Author
17 years ago
The GFCI outlet said on it 240V, so I was a little confused. I did some research and I determined I have a 120V/240V multi circuit. The red is another 120V hot wire. There is no ground wire because the conduit will ground it. I want to install a garbage disposal and I was just seeing how easy it would be. Being an engineer, I love to figure out how to do stuff myself. All the research I did either describes how to install a switch and outlet with a single circuit or an outlet only on a multi circuit. I am a little concerned with the 120V/240V circuit. Thanks for your help.
bus_driver
17 years ago
"The GFCI outlet indicates that it is 240V". Is this marked by the manufacturer or by the installer? Please describe the marking.

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES No Neutral Ground? Why the Color Camps Are So Opinionated

By Vanessa Brunner

Can't we all just get along when it comes to color versus neutrals?

GREEN BUILDING The Big Freeze: Inventors Break New Ground to Keep Things Cool

By Olivia Strigari

Old-fashioned fridges can be energy guzzlers, but there are more eco-friendly ways of keeping food fresh, as these global innovations show

EDIBLE GARDENS Summer Crop: How to Grow Blueberries

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant blueberries in spring or fall for garden beauty through three seasons — and a sweet superfood in summer

MOST POPULAR Meet a Lawn Alternative That Works Wonders

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Carex can replace turfgrass in any spot, is low maintenance and adjusts easily. Add its good looks and you’ve got a ground cover winner

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Great Design Plant: Ocotillo for High-Reaching Flair

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Add a dramatic accent to a dry landscape with this striking desert plant silhouetted against the sky

TREES 11 Japanese Maples for Breathtaking Color and Form

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

With such a wide range to choose from, there’s a beautiful Japanese maple to suit almost any setting

HOLIDAYS Guys, Where Do You Feel Most at Home?

By Erin Carlyle

For Father’s Day, we’d like to hear from the men. What part of your house makes you feel most like yourself — grounded and alive?

EDIBLE GARDENS Summer Crops: How to Grow Tomatoes

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard

PETS What You Need to Know Before Buying Chicks

Ordering chicks for your backyard coop? Easy. But caring for them requires planning and foresight. Here's what to do

SUMMER GARDENING 6 Water-Wise Perennials for Blazing High-Altitude Summers

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Scorching weather and high elevations don't have to mean scraggly plantings. These blooms are as gorgeous as they are tough

Sponsored

More Discussions

Does NEC require a DUPLEX receptacle in kitchen?

2

Is Hubbell the only UL listed pop-up outlet for NYC Kitchen island?

4

challenging lighting situation - under upper flight of stairs

13

Killing electric outlet behind cabinet

4

I need a pop up outlet on my island, but they are HUGE!

9