Converting a 240v Outlet to 120v

[MikePA]

Is there a way, using the existing wiring in the box, to convert a 240v outlet to 120v? We have a 240v outlet under a window which was used for a 240v air conditioner. The air conditioner is not used any more and it'd be nice to use the outlet for other things.

 

[EdKing]

Mike, you can do this by changing the breaker from a 220v to a 110v in your breaker box, and then changing the receptical to a standard 110v receptical. The existing wiring from the breaker box to the outlet would work with either 110 or 220. If you are not familiar with how to change breakers or recepticals, get an electrician friend to do the switch for you.

 

[MikePA]

Thanks, Ed. There's no way to do this by only hooking up some of the wires in the outlet box? The last time I had an electrician out, he mentioned that the breakers I have were discontinued, so I'm not sure I can even get a 120v breaker.

 

[gerard]

You'll probably have 4 wires. a neutral (white), a ground (bare copper or green), and a red and black, both hot and both carry 120 volts. If you only hook up the black or the red and cap off the other one you'll only have 120 volts BUT the breaker will still be rated for probably a 30 amps draw so it's not a real safe way to do it. You really should replace the breaker with a 15 or 20 amp 120 volt breaker. It's a pretty simple job - whole thing should take less than 30 minutes once you have the breaker and the receptacle.

 

[JerryG]

Mike,
I don’t know if it is against code or not but, I had an electrician friend of mine to make me a two foot long cord up. The cord just plugs into the 220 and you have 110 at the other end. He said something about just using one of the hot wires. I don’t use it in the house. I only use it in my poultry houses. That way I have more places that I can plug in drills and saws.

 

[Inspector507]

Mike,
Just changing the wires in the outlet box is a possibilty, but I doubt it. Most 240V A/C's only have a 3 wire outlet. They can and will use only a 2 wire w/grd to that oulet. There is a ground wire along with 2 "hots". If you change to a 110v outlet you still have 240v there. You could still use the 2-pole breaker however if it's the right size. Just connect a wire to one pole.
Let us know what you have in the outlet, # of wires, size of wires, etc. What size breaker is there now...? and what size do you need for the 110v outlet..?That will be the best thing.

 

[gordon]

Dang that would take me at least an hour. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
But yes that is a good way to explain it if he is dealing with 4 wires. A three wire hook up was already explained. Main thing is don't forget to downsize the breaker to either 15 or 20 amp single pole and cap the extra wire at both the panel and at the rec. That way it's still available for future use.

If it's just three wires in the box then you can change the breaker to single pole. Then use one for the hot and one for the neutral, instead of using two for the hot.

Gordon

 

[bgott]

What make of breakers do you have?

 

[Inspector507]

Sure hope they're not Zinsco or FPE /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[bgott]

I haven't heard of Zinsco but we're ate up with FPE around here. You can still buy new FPE breakers but they are about $20 a pop.