On Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:41:36 -0600, Frank Boettcher
wrote:


Well, cabinet trim went fine, range fits and is centered (probably
should have greased the sides a bit goilg in) currently wiring the new
range.

romex into the 50 Amp wall plug is three wire, which was code
acceptable then and now for reinstallation. However, old range was
wired with a four wire plug. Nuetral and ground are tied together in
the male end of the plug (which I am reusing).

four wire hookup calls for hooking up black, white (nuetral) and red
on the terminal block and *removing* a bonding strap from the ground
screw to the nuetral terminal on the ground, then attaching the ground
wire to the now chassis only ground screw.

Three wire hook up calls for black, white (nuetral) and red, no ground
wire and leaving the bonding strap in place.

I'm going to assume that the former is better despite the fact there
is no separate nuetral and ground returning to the box, they are at
least separate leaving the appliance.

Or maybe it doesn't matter?

Frank


Assuming the range requires a 110 leg, a neutral is required. Current
code requires a ground wire separate from the neutral which means
under today's rules, wiring the range would require a 4-wire (3
conductor + ground) cable.

The three wire hookup you describe, bonding neutral and ground at the
plug, violates the code requirement that the grounding wire not carry
current during normal operation since bonding causes the neutral and
ground to become a common conductor.

However, if, as you state, the 3-wire installation was per code at the
time of the original installation and your local jurisdiction doesn't
require that the installation be brought up to current code
requirements on re-installation, you should be good to go. It does
seem a little strange to me that a 4 wire receptacle would be
permitted in a 3 wire installation. Could be very misleading to all
who come later.


Tom Veatch
Wichita, KS
USA