# Question on 240v appliance wiring **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 30, 2023, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-240v-appliance-wiring/983372 "2023-04-30T16:28:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![andrewm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c57346/32.png) [@andrewm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewm)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-240v-appliance-wiring/983372/21 "2023-05-01T01:24:00Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > I am only speaking about a load center that has separate ground and neutral bus bars. If there is only one bus bar serving ground AND neutral, then the OP should confirm that the the gray wire goes to ground/neutral and will then be assured that the gray wire IS ground, regardless of the color or the wire. > > Seems to me that this would only matter to an inspector. It is a code violation to use a gray wire for ground. Gray is for neutral only. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-240v-appliance-wiring/983372/22 "2023-05-01T01:46:20Z")
OF COURSE it’s a code violation, but the color of the wire doesn’t change the electrical function of the wire. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-240v-appliance-wiring/983372/23 "2023-05-01T03:54:54Z")
But there are a lot of problems created by people doing things their own way, because they’ll just know. There’s a reason for codes dictating things like the color of wire insulation. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-240v-appliance-wiring/983372/24 "2023-05-01T12:47:13Z")
If that grey wire goes back to the panel with the mains breaker it will most likely be bonded to the ground bus and the panel enclosure. The best way to check this is to take an ohm reading from the grey wire to the conduit. If it’s zero then the wire and the conduit are bonded to the system. You can take a ground pigtail from the box to the device/appliance. Personally, I would either pull a new ground back to the panel, or wrap green tape around both ends of the grey wire and call it a day. A #10 wire is sufficient for this application (good up to 60 amps - for equipment ground). I dont like to use the conduit as a ground due to locknuts and fittings loosening up over time. You might have a ground today and not have one next week… ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-240v-appliance-wiring/983372/25 "2023-05-02T15:34:34Z")
> [@Uncommon\_Sense](#): > > I dont like to use the conduit as a ground Not a good idea at all for the same reason as copper water pipes are no longer considered suitable. Both can be replaced in whole or in part by non-conductive plastic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-240v-appliance-wiring/983372.md?page=1)