I've got an air compressor, its 230v 21amp and currently has a 2 pole/gnd plug.



I've got an electric range, its 240v 40amp and currently has a 3 pole/gnd plug.



My house doesn't have an open circuit to hardwire the compressor, and I need a temporary solution in order to paint my hood. I've been told I can purchase a new range plug, wire it to the compressor, and disregard the neutral pole. Looking for a second opinion, is this going to work? I've also got a 30 amp dryer, 2pole/gnd, but its further away- if the range plug isn't a good idea- is the dryer plug a better solution?

 

I would just make a beefy 2 pole/gnd extension cord and plug it into the dryer outlet. You may need to fashion it yourself using some big ass 3 wire cable and a male and female end, but after that you should be good. How far you talking?



But I'm not an electrician, I'm not all up to spec on codes and outlets and all that fun stuff. I design power grids lol, totally different applications and standards!

 

I've got ~20 feet of 10/3 or 12/3 (forget which) that I run to my dryer outlet when I need to pump up the compressor. Not ideal, but it works. Code enforcement officers would freak if you did, but you can just ignore one of the low-voltage poles. 2hot+ground makes the motors turn. The neutral plus ground circuitry in your house is for belt-and-suspenders type safety as well as dealing with EMI/noise on the mains from your load.

 

Your ground should be bonded to system neutral anyways. In a 240V application there theoretically isn't any need for a neutral. Out one end and into the other.



"Belt and Suspenders" type safety LOL! Just keep one hand in your pocket, don't spill any water and your golden. It's all low voltage anyways.



OP, just go to your local Home Depot and pick up some cable and ends. Make sure you ring them out though to make sure your ends match, so you don't switch poles.

 

"low" voltage being a relative term. 230 is as high as I like to play. 460 if it makes me money and higher than that only if there is a GFI or current limit involved. Plus standing on insulating shoes.

 

Haha, yeah it is a relative term. When I used to work with DC solar, 6v was low voltage and 48V was high. Now anything under 600v is low and 27.6kV is high, whereas 500kV is high for some of my other colleagues!

 

This is me when we start working with >10kV



Throw in a couple hundred feet off the ground and x10 voltage and I'll be all



Somebody's got to do it . . . but uh . . . yeah, so you have fun with that.

 

The reason there is a neutral on an electric dryer is the drum motor is 120V. The heating element is 240V like in an electric oven. Opposite phases cancel each other out. +120v-120v=0v



I should add the controls are 120v too, door switch timer and contractor.

 

Electricity is black magic. Do not mess with it.



For those who are thoroughly confused, I refer you from our car forum to this physics forum. That's as close to accessible as I've seen this explanation, ever.

 

Electricity is logic. Deal with it.