How do you wire a red-black-white 240 v into a new 4 prong outlet- does white go to ground or to neutral?

Answer 1

Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.

White goes to neutral. White is an incorrect color for ground.

Upon further investigation you might find, however, that the white wire is connected to the casing of the appliance. If this is true and if this is the only function of the white wire then it is truly a ground wire. It should be wired as such to the outlet and it should be marked on both ends with green tape or paint or some other method of marking, or it should be replaced with a green or bare conductor.

If it serves the purpose of ground and neutral you may want to consider replacing the cable with a 4 conductor cable and isolate the neutral from the ground.

<><><>

As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

Answer 2

The red and black wires are your hot wires, which should connect to the two brass terminals on the outlet. The white wire is your neutral wire and should connect to the silver terminal on the outlet. The green or bare wire is your ground wire and should connect to the green terminal on the outlet.