1 Nov
2000
1 Nov
'00
3:25 a.m.
The phase shift is 180 degrees! :-) Yes, it's
220 VAC, center tapped
and the center tap is tied to neutral (not ground). The neutrals aren't
supposed to be tied to ground but a lot of people do it anyway.
Unless things are much different in Florida, the neutral is supposed to be
tied to ground in *exactly* one place for the entire building, and that
place is at the main breaker panel. So I assume you meant that people
add additional neutral-ground connections elsewhere, which is *bad*.
FWIW here in Florida, the code requires that all new
contruction use
four conductor outlets for split phase 220 (one neutral, two hot and
one ground).
Interesting. While I approve on the basis of it being more useful, I
don't understand why the building or electrical would require this.
It doesn't appear to offer any safety advantage.
I should rephrase that. Split phase with neutral doesn't offer any
safety advantage over correctly-used split-phase without neutral. But
I suppose if morons have been abusing the ground wire as a neutral, that
would be likely to burn down some buildings. So I suppose the code
has been updated in an attempt to avoid that situation.