dstedman wrote:

Hey -

I am wiring a dryer element for use in a ~1kg fluid bed roaster. I am hoping to use a range outlet/cord if possible, which in the US has 2 hot wires at 120v and a neutral line. When I am wiring directly to the heating element, am I supposed to incorporate the neutral line? I wouldn't think so, based on what I have researched, right? Is it super necessary to ground the circuit or will it be fine with just the hot lines? I would prefer to not modify the outlet to add ground if possible.

My fan blower is on a separate 120v circuit.

Thanks guys!

allenb wrote:



Dryers prior to 2000 were only required to have two hots (two 120 v feeds out of phase from each other) and a neutral which was also tied to ground at the panel so it acted as a ground and a neutral so the dryer's motor could be fed 120 by tapping off of one hot and the neutral/ground.

As long as your circuit only needs single phase 240 (two hots) and no 120 volt circuits feeding 120 volt motors or power supplies, then all you need is two hots (A and B phase from your breaker panel) and a ground to the metal chassis parts of your roaster. With this being said, the ground cannot be used to conduct any electricity in your circuit but must be used solely for safety grounding purposes. You asked if you should incorporate the neutral line to your heating element. No. A dryer heating element uses single phase 240 (2 hots 180 degrees out of phase) and does not use a neutral. Other parts of a dryer needs the neutral/ground feed but in your case you only want the two hots and ground to chassis. The two hots go to the two ends of the element, the ground goes to chassis and yes, you need a ground to keep you from being cooked but is only for safety.

Thanks for the very helpful response. I think I will run my ground from a different outlet on the same breaker to avoid changing the 240v outlet to the newer 4 prong version. Appreciate the help