RV Electrical outlet, wire colors for hook up to outlet? Which one do I use for ground?

Question

I am hooking up a 30 amp rv outlet to connect my trailer to for electric service. I have to use a 10/3 with ground wire. I have black, red, white and bare. I use the white for common, the blacke for hot. The question I have is, of the red and bare wire which one goes to the ground connection on the outlet and which one goes to ground in the outlet box and service panel. I have no problem getting it to be safe, I just do not know which one is used for ground at the plug when there are four wires and one is red, not green.. Thanks

Answer 1

The 10/3 you have is color coded for 220VAC service. Also red, black, white wires are used for 110VAC 3-way switching circuits, such as lighting. For 220VAC, normally the red is hot, the black is hot, the white is neutral and the bare is ground. For switching circuits, the black is hot, the red is switched hot, the white is neutral, the bare is ground.



If you are wanting 110VAC, I woud get 10/3 wire that is color coded for 110VAC, black, white, green and bare. This will eliminate any errors.



You can use any colors you want as long as you know what they are and where they go electrically. Use the black for hot, the white for neutral, the bare for ground and cap-off the red. If your outlet is three pronged and has a ground screw, you can use the red for the ground prong (red substituting the for the green wire) , and the bare for the ground screw. If there is no ground screw, eliminate the bare wire. If you modify the colors, becareful because it will not be to any code.

Answer 2

Joe and Marv are both right. It sounds to me like you have removed a 220 V USA outlet for a stove or clothes drier and tried to replace it with a regular 110 V Outlet. In the USA Red = Hot and Black is also hot but from the opposite side of the transformer. White = Neutral and ground is of course ground. Voltage from white to red = 110. Voltage from black to red = 110 (each has it's own breaker and they are tied together at the handles). However!!!!! Red to Black = 220 V It could also be a 220 V outlet for a window air conditioner. These look the same as a 110 V outlet except the power pins are orientated horizontally like this _ ° _ ------ Outlets and basic wiring is the same in USA & Canada. I think it's the same throughout North & South America. ------ Plain simple fact is, for a basic 110 outlet you should not have that extra red wire nor should you have a double breaker. Most outlets are double and may have metal tabs (not plastic) joining them. IF on the old outlet they were cut (seperated) and the red circuit connected to one and the other connected to black, then you would have a potentially very dangerous situation that would NOT meet codes but may not show up during an inspection. You could have 220 volts between an item plugged into one outlet and an item plugged into the other.

Answer 3

The 10/3 you have is colour coded for 220VAC service. Also red, black, white wires tend to be used for 110VAC 3-way switching circuits, this kind of as lighting. For 220VAC, generally the crimson is hot, the black is hot, the white is neutral and the bare is ground. For switching circuits, the black is hot, the crimson is switched hot, the white is neutral, the bare is ground. If you tend to be wanting 110VAC, I woud get 10/3 wire that is colour coded for 110VAC, black, white, eco-friendly and bare. This will eliminate each errors. You are able to use each colors you want as lengthy as you know what they tend to be and exactly where they go electrically. Use the black for hot, the white for neutral, the bare for floor and cap-off the red. If your outlet is 3 pronged and has a floor screw, you are able to use the crimson for the floor prong (red substituting the for the eco-friendly wire) , and the bare for the floor screw. If there is no floor screw, eliminate the bare wire. If you modify the colors, becareful simply because it will not be to each code.