On Sat, 25 Feb 2006 13:58:14 GMT, "Kevin Ricks"
wrote:


"sglaab" wrote in message
...

OK so I think this can be done quite simply I just need to be positive.
I have an unused 240V stove plug (the 3 pronged triangle shaped) I
would like to use this power to hook up a home vacuum system. I want
to split the 240V line into a 120V outlet for the vacuum itself and the
other line for the outlets at each conection (one on each floor) for the
power for the tools & attachments. I believe I can connect the red
white to the outlet for the vacuum in a junction box and the white and
black to a new wire out to the outlets at each connection. OK so far?

The double breaker in the box says 40 on both connected breakers. Are
they both 20A then? Can I leave this together and use this breaker?
Am I OK here. Thanks for the help.


No the 40 amp means 40amp on each wire. Since the 2 poles are alternating
(sine wave) you will never have more than 40 amps at the appliance. When one
side is drawing 40 the other side is at 0. When one is at 30 the other is
10 etc.


That's not right. The 2 phases are opposite. The peaks occur at the
same time (just opposite polarities). During that time, each side is
drawing 40A. 1/240 second later, each is drawing 0A. The currents will
always be equal and opposite.

It will never total more than 40A because the sides are at opposite
polarities.

Does your stove outlet have 4 wires. Red, Black, White, Ground? The ground
may be attached to the box.
If not I would not try to convert it. I would run new wires from the panel.
Some 240V outlets have red, black ground (no neutral). Some have neutral but
no ground. Newer 240V outlets are required to be 4 wire.


The difference between ground and neutral has to do with current flow.
it you have a dedicated (currently with no load connected) 240V
circuit, how would you know which you have?

In general this is not a good idea. but do this safely you would need to
replace your 40A with a 20 amp double pole. Or two 20 amps breakers with the
handles tied together. (That is if you are using 12 ga wire)
If you did not change the breaker then you would have to keep using the
larger wire (6ga?) on the entire circuit.


You couldn't use 4 (2 for each side) 20A receptacles?

A better idea is to make a sub panel at the stove outlet with 2 - 20 amp
breakers there. In that case you would leave the 40 amp breaker in the main
panel. You couldn't do this though if you don't have the 4 wire circuit
with a properly sized ground wire.

Kevin


I've seen 240V circuits split for holiday lights.










--
sglaab

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Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

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