On 6 Feb 2004 12:05:03 -0800,
(benwoodward.com) wrote:

You have a house.
You have no 220v outlets easily accessible.
Yes you do.
Even if you don't.
Thank heavens for oscilloscopes.
All the 120v breakers on the left side of you breaker box are 180
degrees(or Pi radians for the less mathematically inclined) out of
phase with all the 120v breakers on the right side.
Find a room or outlet where the lights go out when you flip off a left
side breaker and plug a 25 ft grounded extension cord into it.
Find a room where the lights go out when you flip off a right side
breaker and plug a 25 foot grounded extension cord into it.
Get a voltmeter and measure hot(little slot) to hot and you will get
240v.
Totally usable up to the value of the smaller of the two breakers.
You can wire nut a third cord with a 240v receptacle into the first
two hot to hot and you will have a female 240v outlet wherever you may
go, provided there are two rooms, one on each 120v side of the breaker
box, within 50ft of each other.
I discovered this accidentally with my oscope a month ago.
So I say screw the dynasty, get the HTP invertig 200.
I'd rather spend 5 extra minutes hunting for an outlet and triple my
welding capability versus trying to get 120v to act like anything more
than a wonderful tool for hampster experiments at NIMH.
Most houses wired in the last 25 years will have split receptacles in
the kitchen, which, with very little effort can be made to give 220V.
If you need a bit more oomph, use the (electric) dryer (30-35A). or
stove (40A). But, whatever you do, be aware that under the wrong
conditions, a minor boo-boo can kill you. Wonder of wonders, I have
survived 55 years of electrical work, having graduated from kerosene
lighting at a tender age.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada