Convert 240 Volt to 120 Volt / with and without neutral wire
Resources:Basic house wiring
Save electric wiring
Troubleshoot-household-electricity
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Convert 240 Volt to 120 Volt / with and without neutral wireResources:Basic house wiring Save electric wiring Troubleshoot-household-electricity |
| Use only 600 volt wire. Lamp cord, extension cords are not rated 600 volt. Use copper wire only. Aluminum wire is fire risk and should be avoided or installed by professional. 30 amp breaker use 10 gauge / 120-240 volt 30 amp outlet can be installed on 30 amp breaker only/ use 10 gauge wire ... cannot be connected to 15-20-40 amp breaker.  Orange/ #10 gauge wire, with ground ... 30 amp capacity. Safe maximum: 30 x 80% = 24 amps. Buy: 10-2 gauge/ 30 amp 10-3/ 30 amp Southwire electric tools |
Yellow
12 gauge 20 amp 120 volt 20 amp outlet can be installed on 20 amp breaker, but not 15 amp breaker/ use 12 ga wire. ... cannot be connected to 30-40 amp breaker. 1  Yellow/ #12 gauge wire, with ground ... 20 amp capacity. Safe maximum 16 amps. Buy: 12-2 gauge/ 20 amp 12-3/ 20 amp NMB is house wiring UF is underground Rolls of stranded wire HOOK UP Wires |
 Multimeters Voltage is tested across two separate wires. Ohms or resistance is tested across both ends of same wire. Amperage is tested along one or two points on same wire. Buy: Analog multimeter Multimeters at Amazon Klein multimeter Electric testers at Amazon Clampmeter for testing amp flow on line |
 Electrical tools must be insulated. Always best to disconnect power, but insulation failure, lack of proper grounding, grounded neutral, lack of GFCI, out-of-code wiring, generator operating without transfer switch, and other problems still pose a risk to anyone working on electric power ... even when breaker is off. Buy: 1000 volt Tool kit Electrician tools kits KLEIN TOOLS Tools kits IRWIN tools KNIPEX Telephone cable knife Low Voltage Mounting Bracket for Telephone |
 Protect wiring from damage Use nipper instead of pliers or screwdriver for removing staples (and nails). Do not damage cable or wires inside cable. -Code says: Cable SHALL BE secured without damage to the outer covering. NEC sec. 336-15 Buy End cutting nippers at Amazon |
 Electrically insulated tools When removing insulation from wire, do NOT score or put cuts on surface of copper wire. Doing so increases resistance and heat on wire and creates possible weak point. Buy tools: KLEIN TOOLS Wire strippers at Amazon Electric Wire Stripping Machine Linesman pliers Utility knife at Amazon |
 Weatherproof
lever switch on outdoor lightsSafely operate outdoor toggle switch Replaces outdoor cover Install over top of ordinary switch Works with single-pole, double-pole, 3PST, 3-way, 4-way switches etc Use weatherproof box for outdoor Can be used indoor or outdoor Buy: Cantex lever switch Leviton lever switch Outdoor lever switches at Amazon Resource Cantex-toggle-switch-covers.pdf Cantex-PVC-junction-boxes.pdf |
Weatherproof wire connectorConnector cavity is full of siliconeBuilt-in cover keeps silicone in place Protect from water, dust etc Buy from my affiliate links Weatherproof size 14 to 6 Amazon Weatherproof size 22 to 8 Amazon Resource How to select and install connectors |
 Multimeter Test for breaks in wire/ Test for voltage Most appliance require 80% rated voltage to function correctly Buy Analog multimeter Multimeters at Amazon Klein multimeter Electric testers at Amazon Clampmeter for testing amp flow on line Resource: How to test and replace element How to test thermocouple Element tests for 120 volts How to test wire |
 Safety when testing wires: Never touch wet or previously flooded appliance. Never stand on wet surface when working on electric. Never stand on bare soil, put down dry boards. Tape tester leads to wood sticks to keep hands away from power. Use non-contact voltage tester before touching wires. Never touch or lean into any made of metal. Remove metal objects from pockets. Do not use oxygen or fuel accelerants in same room as electrical repairs Resource: Basic house wiring |
 Weatherproof
outlet coverSafely use extension cord with weather resistant cover Buy: Outlet covers |
 Weatherproof
boxFor adding outdoor wiring Drill through back of indoor box, and through wall to install new outdoor outlet. Buy Hubbell Bell PVC box Hubbell Bell aluminum box |
| Basic plan if you have Neutral connection: | |
 Basic plan if you have Neutral
connection:Caution: When you work inside main breaker box ... even with main breaker OFF, the wires on the main breaker are HOT. OK, so safety first. 240V breaker has 2 Hot wires that go to the 240V outlet or 240 volt water heater etc. Take one of the 2 wires off the double breaker (preferably the white wire) and move that wire to the Neutral busbar. After that the double breaker will supply 1 Hot wire and 1 Neutral wiregoing to outlet. This will convert the outlet to 20 amp, 120Volt. For receptacles or outlets, by code, you must also change the receptacle to standard 120V outlet, and if you're on a 20 amp breaker, it is code to use either 15 or 20 amp receptacle. |
| Convert 240 volt water heater to
120
volt ... This works if the 240 volt circuit supplies power to only 1 Load, or the circuit is unused.  Cautions
and general instructions for changing 240 volt heater to 120 volt. Big wires on main breaker
are still Hot when main breaker is OFF.When main breaker is OFF, then all small breakers are OFF and safe to work on. Use only solid copper #12 and #10 wires ... if stranded wire is used, then connect stranded to short piece of solid copper and cover with twist on wire connector ... and put solid copper wire under screw plate on breaker and Neutral busbar. Always tighten screws and twist on connectors very tight. Change wiring from 240 volt to 120 volt Fig-1 shows typical 240V water heater circuit. Two Hot wires connect to circuit breaker Ground wire connects to Ground busbar Fig-2 shows conversion to 120V: Move black wire from 240V breaker to 120Volt circuit breaker rated for correct amps. 30 amp breakers and 10 gauge wire run cooler with less heat loss. Circuit is more efficient, and breaker box lasts longer ... so you can use a 20 amp single breaker, or a 30 amp single breaker because the orange wire is 10 gauge. If the wire is yellow, then wire is for 20 amp breaker only... do use 30 amp breaker and yellow 20 amp wire..  Move white wire from 240V breaker to Neutral busbar where ground wire connects. If White is not long enough, then buy short length of 10-2 or 12-12 sheathed cable, and take out length of white wire. Join white wires with twist on wire connector. Use only solid copper for #12 and #10 wires. Modern breaker boxes have separate Neutral busbar where white wires are connected ... while illustration shows both Neutral and ground busbars on same side of box for purpose of illustration, the modern breaker box has Neutral and ground busbars on separate sides of box. Always connect ground wire onto the ground busbar ... and white Neutral on the Neutral busbar. Water heater must be grounded for safety. Resources: Basic 240Volt water heater circuit How to replace circuit breaker How to install subpanel |
| Plan without Neutral connection: | |
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Plan without Neutral connection: Suppose you want to pull 120 V off a 240V circuit, but you still need the 240 volt to run water pump etc.... Then use Siemens industrial transformers Typical household use would be to step 240 volt down to 120 volt. Inexpensive .... reliable ... requires enclosure Size: 5.1 x 5.6 x 3.6 inches ; 3 pounds Different models have input for 120 with 24 volt AC output, input for 240 with 120 volt output ... or input 480 volt with 240 volt output. Outputs are AC. Buy: Siemens industrial transformers Choose enclosure that is large enough Bud industries hinged box 6x8x4 Metal outdoor Enclosure/ with 1/2-3/4" knockouts Polycarbonate enclosures drill for knockouts Thomas and Betts 6x6x4 plastic with cover at Amazon Bud industries 11x7x5 box no knockouts Tapered drill bit 1/4"-1-3/8 holes  Example Nema 3R indoor outdoor enclosures   Resources: Siemens control transformers Siemens transformers |
  Example
wiring diagram for Siemens industrial transformerIf the input voltage is 220-230-240 volt, then connect one wire to terminals H1 and H3, connect other wire to H2 and H4. If input voltage is 440-460-480 volt (480 for Americas), then connect one wire to H1 and other wire to H4, then jumper a wire between H2 and H3. Larger image of transformer Buy: Siemens MT0050 industrial transformer Note: 60 Hz Hot to Hot 240 volt is for power grid in Americas, 50 Hz Hot to Neutral 230 for Europe, and 50 Hz Hot to Neutral 220 for Australia etc. |
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 When ordering: "If the dual voltage is separated by an “X” (120 x 240), the transformer can be connected only for 120 volts or 240 volts. But, if it is separated by a “slash” (120/240), an additional Neutral connection is possible since the mid-point becomes available for 240/120 3-wire operation." Resource pdf pg 4 Read more about transformers |
Encapsulated step down
Transformer will do same as Siemens transformer, except cost more since
they come inside a metal enclosure/ Typical household use would be to step 240 volt down to 120 volt. Convert 240Volt to 120Volt without neutral wire from breaker box Convert 480Volt to 240Volt  Type
3R outdoor enclosureWiring: 480Volt input connects to H1 H4, and then H2 and H3 are connected together 240Volt output connects to X1 X4, and then X2 and X3 are connected together 240Volt input connects to H1 H4, and then H3 connects to H1, and H2 connects to H4 120Volt output connects to X1 X4, and then X3 connects to X2  Buy:500 watt 240-120 volt step down 1000 watt 240-120 volt step down 1000 watt step down 2000 watt 240 volt to 120 volt step down Encapsulated transformers Acme step down - 120/240 primary/ 120 240 secondary Resources: Acme ransformer wiring Dry transformer installation Match wire and breaker size How to wire a subpanel Read about household single-phase electricity Read about 3-phase How to wire 3-phase timers |
| Bring in a Neutral from nearby outlet | |
Bring in a Neutral from nearby
outletStrategy for pool pump, shop tools, irrigation load etc Bring neutral from nearby outlet or light fixture. Note: 120 volt circuit needs Hot and Neutral, while 240 volt typically has 2 Hots and no Neutral. So the circuit needs a Neutral wire from a nearby 120 volt outlet .... So why not just bring a Hot and Neutral over from the Nearby 120 volt outlet? Answer: The motor load is 6 amps, but the 120 volt outlet is on a 15 amp breaker with safe maximum 80% = 12 amps. If the 15 amp circuit already supports several Loads, there is not enough spare amperage for the motor. Note: Code says that Neutral wire is never switched on-off ... only the Hot wire is switched. Buy: Motor switch MS302 30 amp 2-pole switch MS402 40 amp 2-pole switch ANL fuseholder Buy fuseholders Fuse blocks at Amazon Electrical terminals Din rail fuseholder 10 x 38 mm fuse |
| Different gauge wires | |
 Larger image |
Get
120 volt from 240 volt line
Use in-line fuse when connecting 2 different gauge wires Illustration shows how to pull 120V from 240Volt line. Only possible by code if 240Volt line has neutral wire. Connect smaller 12
gauge wire to 10 gauge wire using twist on wire connector.
All connections must be inside electrically rated enclosed box with cover. 10 gauge wire is protected by 30 amp breaker The amp draw on 30 amp breaker is too large for 12 gauge wire. 12 gauge wire should have 20 amp breaker. Use fuseholder with
20 amp fuse.
Fuse will protect entire length of 12 gauge wire. Connect fuse to Hot wire. Not necessary to put fuse on Neutral If the 12 gauge wire was wired for 240V, then fuses can be added to both hot wires. Always make connections inside a box with cover Buy: ANL fuseholder Buy fuseholders Resource See wire sizes |
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Surface
mount ANL fuseholder Buy: ANL fuseholder e2 fuseholder with platinum plating ANL fuses |
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Din rail fuseholder Install fuse in-line so circuit can be turned on. Multiple fuses and breakers on same circuit are fine. Buy: Din rail fuseholder 10 x 38 mm fuse Mersen DC fuseholder Mersen DC fuseholders Photovoltaic fuse 20 amp DC fuse 14 x 51mm fuseholder and fuse Din rails Din rail mounted circuit breakers |
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Step up -or- step down transformerConvert 120 volt into 240 volt/ or 240 into 120 VoltBuy: 500 watt transformer 1500 watt transformer 3000 watt transformer Resource; Step / step down transformer basics Transformer basics .pdf |
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Resource Change 240 Volt subpanel to 120 Volt |
 Larger imageToggle between under counter water heater and dishwasher Same wiring for
either 120 or 240 volt loads
Code permits 15 or 20 amp switch on a 20 amp breaker ... as long as switch is rated for same voltage and more amps than Load (anything that consumes power is Load) Objective 1: Either the dishwasher has power or the under-counter water heater has power. But neither at same time. Why? Because safe maximum amps on 20 amp breaker is 80% or 16 amps ... while dishwasher and water heater together consume 23 amps. Do not install 30 amp circuit breaker unless wire is also increased in size from 12 ga to 10 gauge. Color code for wire How to wire: Incoming wire from breaker has 2 wires. If voltage is 120, then the white Neutral wire is never switched on-off. Connect white Neutral wire to each appliance. Black Hot wire is switched on-off. Connect Hot wire to COM terminal on the 3-way switch (dark or different color screw). Then run a Hot wire to each appliance from the other two screws on switched.  Heavier amp loads, or more voltage, such as 30 amp 240 volt water heater, use a 30 amp 3-way switch (safe max 23 amps). Other options, for higher amperage loads and motor loads (such as irrigation pumps, shop tools etc), include using a switch (or timer) to toggle loads with 30-40 amp open frame relay. Buy 30 amp 3-way: Leviton 3033 switch 30 amp 3-way switch Dishwashers Resource: How to wire open frame relay |
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Buy
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