ac panel question

[daviid]

i snagged a outdoor ac panel from work ( i had about 30 or so to scrap ) i want to be able to use both 120 & 240 for my source. for example if 120 is only available then im not screwed if 240 isnt available. now i figure a transfer switch is the best way for this. but my question is, how do i wire the 240 so i can use my 120 appliances on it. my dad was saying i would have to ground to the neutral or something like that. can anyone offer a easier explanation

[Wishbone]

anything after the first switch in your service has to have the neutral and the ground separate

and any 240 source will have to have 120 the only thing would be if it has a neutral or not at the point you are trying to conect

[KevinB]

I am confused not sure what trying to do

[Currently]

First of all get someone who really understands this stuff.

This stuff can kill you or your family if not done right.

If you can understand phases and how both phases together give you 220
then you may have a chance to do this.

Please hire a qualified person to do that work for you.
I do automation and controls engineering with up to 480 volts.
Some jobs, I won't touch because of the liability and infrastructure
that is associated with it.

Give you an example, I once bought a house where I tested the electrical
system. My bathroom outlet above the sink had 110 between hot and neutral
and 110 between hot and ground. However, when I measured neutral and ground, I got 220 volts.

If you can understand how that is possible, then you have the skills to do
what you are trying to do.

BTW ... I was not the one that fixed that problem, I hired a good electrician.
What I learned was the best 120 bucks I ever spent in my life and possibly
saved our lives.

[KevinB]

My thought on that outlet was hot voltage (two hot legs) was on the white and the ground and the black was grounded some how. I seen some crazy shit out there.

My guess is he's trying to build a generator set up, with this panel. I would just go get prewired generator panel if this is what your looking to build, easier and safer.

[daviid]

First of all get someone who really understands this stuff.

This stuff can kill you or your family if not done right.

If you can understand phases and how both phases together give you 220
then you may have a chance to do this.

Please hire a qualified person to do that work for you.
I do automation and controls engineering with up to 480 volts.
Some jobs, I won't touch because of the liability and infrastructure
that is associated with it.

Give you an example, I once bought a house where I tested the electrical
system. My bathroom outlet above the sink had 110 between hot and neutral
and 110 between hot and ground. However, when I measured neutral and ground, I got 220 volts.

If you can understand how that is possible, then you have the skills to do
what you are trying to do.

BTW ... I was not the one that fixed that problem, I hired a good electrician.
What I learned was the best 120 bucks I ever spent in my life and possibly
saved our lives.

i can do simple wiring, ive never tried something like this before.

the reason behind it, is i want to take advantage of a 50amp circuit like at loudon if i can, but not be screwed if i go somewherte else that is only 110

[Currently]

My thought on that outlet was hot voltage (two hot legs) was on the white and the ground and the black was grounded some how. I seen some crazy shit out there.

Very close, that was a good deduction! This will make it simpler.

Old tar cloth covered Romex ... two conductor, no ground.

Old shallow jbox in living room ceiling that was an inch deep with 4 leads into
it plus feeding a switched living room lamp.

People wonder why old houses burn down for no reason.

+1 on getting a prewired substation to use at Loudon.
Those things are cheap.

Plus any circuitry where there is direct contact with the ground requires
GFCI breakers.

[KevinB]

You need to know what type of power outlets are available or make a couple different setups. Electrical cord ends come with different pin arrangements with biggest being 3 or 4 wire, they can be straight (stove or dryer) or twist lock ($$$).The safest is a 4 wire setup which has 1 neutral(white), 2 hot(black or red), and 1 ground(green or bare). Older 3 wire systems make the ground / neutral one and two other pins are your hot legs. If they are straight blade connections you can get a 4 or 6 foot stove cord from Home Depot for less than $20.

[SVRACER01]

usually the 120s are the first to go so a 240 will most likely be open