220 volt outlet conversion to two 110 outlets

[ahblaza]

Hello All,
I don't know if this is appropriate for this forum, but you folks have been so helpful with all of my other posts and questions that I thought I would seek again your wealth of knowledge. I have a dedicated 220 line in an upstairs room run from a 30 amp (bridged 15 amp double switched breaker) in the main breaker box which is located directly below the 220 line receptacle on main floor, I don't know why I added that info, may help to know! This 220 line was put there originally for a massive casement window AC unit, that's the only reason it's there. I will no longer be using the AC unit and would like to tap off the 220 line and end up with two 115 volt 15 amp outlets in the same room. There is cable coming up through the floor from downstairs mains box terminated into an onwall receptacle with 220 type plug. I would appreciate any suggestion or thoughts as to where to begin. The two new 115v outlets can be located anywhere onwall or floor, the reason I say that is my home is basically concrete floors and walls with plaster and routing wire through the walls is difficult, I have a boiler furnace thus the construction format. I'm looking for the most simple but safe method, asthetics are not a concern. Thanks to all who read this,(I probably could have asked this in one or two sentences) I have trouble conveying my thoughts into words. Thanks again my friends, I look so forward to your reply.
Sincerely.....Jeff Nordi

 

[Sounds Good]

interesting quuestion... i am by no means an electritian... this is just me brain storming... the wireing is already there... you just have to rewire it your electrical box somehow...

 

[ahblaza]

Keep brainstorming, I need to know the "somehow"
Thanks

 

[dougg]

Only Three Wires in the 220 Circuit ?

Only three Wires from the Main Panel means only one Circuit can Be Run. Change the Breaker to a 110 and Reciptacle to 110.
To try and get two separate Circuits out of only three wires would lead to Grounding problems, You won't have separate Circuit Ground wires and would be very much out of "Code" and probaly Dangerious!
Dougg

 

[Haoleb]

Also, If your asking this question to begin with. Dont try doing this yourself. Get an electrician!

 

[BillP2R]

Questions: (1) Do you have three insulated wires coming to the 240V outlet (e.g. a red, a black and a white)? (2) Is there a a fourth wire (e.g. a bare "ground" wire)?

If the answer to (1) is yes, the white wire should be your "neutral" and the black and red wires are the "hot" wires. You should find 120 volts from the red to the white and from the black to the white.

If the answer to (2) is yes, you have everything you need to establish the two 15 amp 120 volt outlets you want. Best would be to get a small 240 volt breaker box with two 15 amp single pole breakers (one on each leg of the 240 volt source) to replace the 240 volt outlet, then run from each breaker to one or more 120 volt outlets.

If you are not comfortable with doing this, by all means get a licensed electrician to do this or something like it for you.

------------------ Bill

 

[ahblaza]

Thanks guys,
Bill I will check the wiring configuration in the AM and will be be better able to answer your specific questions as to how many, ground and so on. I will shut power off to that circuit and see what is there. Once these questions are answered and with your advice I do feel comfortable with doing this.
Thanks so much for your help....I'll be back soon
Jeff

 

[pjoseph]

every house is capable of 240/120

240 volts comes from phase to phase
120 is phase to ground.

as far as the colors goes Im not sure but it can be changed.

 

[BillP2R]

240 volts comes from phase to phase
120 is phase to ground.

Actually, if it's a three phase circuit you would find 208 volts phase to phase and 120 volts phase to ground.

On a single phase service like you would have at home, your service is fed from a 240 volt secondary winding in the distribution transformer that serves your home. That winding has a center tap which is connected to the "neutral" bus in your breaker box, hence 120 volts from the outside leads of the winding to the center tap. This neutral point is usually grounded at the source, but code still requires a separate ground wire be carried along from your service panel to your wiring devices throughout your home.

---------------- Bill

 

[ahblaza]

Hi Bill and others,
The wire coming up from floor, it is wired to a 240 volt 20 amp plug with 12AWG 1 black, 1 white and 1 ground wires. The breaker it is connected to is a bridged two 15 amp breakers switch. I have access to breaker panel and could possibly run additional wiring up through floor, so I'm open and listening. I could just consult my brother, he does these things, but would rather do it myself. Thanks to all
Jeff

 

[dougg]

Black White and Ground

You don't have enough Neutral wires to run Two circuits safely. Unbridge the Breaker, disconnect and run the White to the Netural bar with the other White Wires and have one Circuit.
For two circuits You will need to run another 14/2 with ground, Romex type Wire and wire it same as the other Circuits.
Dougg

 

[highfigh]

This is not DIY territory. If you have to ask, you shouldn't be changing it. The Electrical Code exists for a reason and if you want to bypass it, you do that at your own risk and you're risking other peoples' safety. Also, if the house burns and it's determined that the cause was electrical, your insurance won't cover it if it wasn't up to code.

 

[Rickster71]

I agree with Highfigh, This is not DIY territory.

Do you want to run two separate circuits, or just two receptacles on one circuit?
You have all you need if it's two receptacles on one circuit.
The 12AWG can be put on a 20 Amp breaker, and easily supply multiple outlets.
The neutral will probably need to be extended, since it was tied into the two pole 15, and may not reach the neutral bar.

 

[ahblaza]

Outlet Conversion

I would like to run two 15 amp circuits to two receptacles. One for a small AC unit and the other for computer and anything else. I have other outlets in the room but there are too many devices on these. The 220 volt, 30 amp circuit was dedicated only to a ( I believe 17,000 BTU AC unit ) that I'm not using, so I have a 30 amp outlet going to waste, that's 30% of my 100 amp household service! My HT setup has it's own 20 amp circuit, but the room(s) in question are over loaded while a 30 amp circuit sits idle. This is the reason to add two 15 amp outlets, replacing the breakers, running the wire up through floor and locating the receptacles which would not be through wall but on wall is not a problem, aesthetics is not a concern. I want to know if what I'm describing is feasible. Thanks everyone for your help, I really want to get this done.
Best regards....Jeff