The Virtual Repairman's Appliance Help

[satish]

Hello,

My home wiring is four wire (red, black, white and ground (copper)). My present cooktop is also four wire. This is connected through a terminal block. I want to install a new cooktop which is only three wire (red, black and ground(copper)). For the new cooktop, do I leave the home white wire untouched and connected at the terminal block and connect the rest?

Thanks.

[Virtual Repairman]

In this case, the copper ground can go to the white (neutral circuit, which should be also coupled to the copper ground. If you look at your breaker box wiring, you will see that the white neutral circuits always end up connected to the ground lug in the breaker box anyway.

[satish]

Hello,

Thanks for the advice. Both the old cooktop and new cooktop are 240V. In the old cooktop the white neutral was probably used for 120V indicator lights. The new cooktop requires only 240V. In this case the return current is provided from one phase to the other. Since the instructions for the new cooktop require connection from red to red, black to black, and ground to ground, do you see any problem with leaving the house circuit white untouched on the terminal block? Thanks.

[Virtual Repairman]

No, simply place some electrical tape or a wire nut over the old Neutral wire and push it out of the way.