cap mlc-4x or similar or similar + 3 prong dryer cord = confusion

Hi everybody.
I'm in the process of setting up my 1st grow/s and have run into an issue with finding clear information about wiring my light controller (CAP MLC-4X).

It seemed simple enough at 1st.... 3 prong dryer cord hooks up to the controller and then I use an existing 240v/30 amp plug running my dryer which is handily located on the other side of a flimsy sheet rock wall adjacent to my grow area.

Here's the problem: the connections on the inside of the controller have clearly marked red and black "hots" and a green "ground". The 3 prong dryer cord has no marked or color coded wires but I've managed to figure out that the 2 outer wires are hots and the center is "neutral". I've googled this shit to death and still can't figure out what I need to do tho. I'd hoped it'd be as simple as using the neutral as ground ie. connecting the center/neutral to the ground lug connecter on the controller but I've read quite a bit of contradictory opinions on whether neutrals and ground can/should be used or switched like this. Surely you wouldn't want to leave the neutral dangling.

Any assistance in getting this stage cleared would let me move onto the many other things I still have left to do get my medicine garden going and would be greatly appreciated.

figure out what these two cords are (maybe take cell pictures) goto home depot and buy an adapter

240vac is 240vac. Im guessing its two hots because 120v per leg

Yes you assume correctly, the center wire in your 3 prong dryer cord is your ground wire, as it will not be carrying any neutral current in your 240 volts application of the light controller.

Stevie51 said:

Yes you assume correctly, the center wire in your 3 prong dryer cord is your ground wire, as it will not be carrying any neutral current in your 240 volts application of the light controller.

Click to expand...

Thanks man.

Ok, so a little update and opportunity to have somebody check my work before I plug anything in or flip any switches.
I ran the neutral on the 240v 10/3 (3prong) dryer cord to the "ground lug" and the outer wires to the "high power relay lugs".



As you can see in the pics below the dryer cord had those little hook thingies that would not fit in the "lugs" so I clipped the thingies off (all 3 of them not just the 1 shown in the photo) and stripped the wire to insert into the lugs. The last pic shows the finished wiring inside the controller. Cool so far?



So now I've got my master light controller wired 240v and that will plug into a dryer receptacle (240v/30 amps).
The 120v trigger cable on the master light controller will plug into my apollo 9 timer which will plug in to a fairly heavy duty power strip plugged into a 120v source.
My ballasts run to my light controller and to my reflectors/lights.

Any last cautions, tips, etc.? I'm thinking everything looks good but, because I've got zero experience with electrical work, lights, ballasts etc, I figured it couldn't hurt to check with people who do have some.
Tia

Looks good