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Convert 240 Volt to 120 Volt / 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.  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 |
White
14 gauge 15 amp 120 volt 15 amp outlet, AFCI, GFCI, timer, switch etc can be installed on 15 or 20 amp breaker. Never connect 15 gauge wire to 20-30-40 amp breaker.  White/ #14 gauge wire, with ground ... 15 amp capacity. Safe maximum 12 amps. Buy: 14-2 gauge/ 15 amp 14-3/ 15 amp NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
| 50-60
amp breaker use 6 gauge / 240 volt 50 outlet can be installed on 50 amp breaker only  Buy: 6-2 wire Southwire electric tools NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
40-50
amp breaker use 8 gauge / 240 volt 40 amp outlet can be installed on 40 or 50 amp breaker only  Buy: 8-2 wire Southwire electric tools NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
  Copper ground wire. Every device, load, metal enclosure etc must be grounded. Ground wire must be continuous throughout installation, never switched on-off, never used as a Neutral wire. Generally ... use same size as other wire in circuit Buy: 12 gauge copper ground wire Ground wire Green ground wire Ground pigtails Ground rods/ ground clamps at Amazon |
 Armored cable can be used as a grounded connection, and will protect wires from damage. Metal can be energized from an insulation failure. Non metallic flexible cables must carry ground wire, but does not have hazard of short circuit causing injury from shock. All conduit ...metal, plastic ... flexible and rigid ... must be attached to structure, and attached to enclosures, boxes. Movement, damage and deterioration are major cause of electrical failure. Buy: Armored cable Southwire armored cable cutter Non-metallic flexible conduit Power whip Pull boxes |
 Electrical tools must be insulated. Always best to disconnect power, but issues of insulation failure, lack of proper grounding, lack of GFCI, out-of-code wiring, generator operating without transfer switch, and other problems pose a risk to anyone working on electric power. Buy: Electrician tools kits Klein tools Tools kits |
 12 ga Stranded wire is good for conduit with multiple wires ... but stranded cannot be installed under screw terminals on outlets, switches, timers etc without risk ... of heat causing splayed strands ....that come loose ... and begin to arc. Connect stranded to short piece of solid copper wire, and attach solid to screw terminal. Do not solder residential or commercial wiring. Buy: Rolls of stranded wire |
 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 resistances and heat on wire and creates possible weak point. Buy tools: Wire strippers at Amazon Linesman pliers Utility knife at Amazon |
 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 |
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Siemens
industrial transformers Inexpensive .... reliable ... requires enclosure 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. 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 Buy: 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 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. Output on X1 X2. Optional fuse clip. If input voltage is commercial 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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Get higher amp
120 volt from 240 volt lineStrategy 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 Electrical terminals |
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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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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 |
 Buck-boost
transformers .... buck voltage down, or boost voltage up. This transformer bucks down voltage. Convert 240Volt to 120Volt without neutral wire from breaker box. Convert 480Volt to 240Volt or 120Volt Type 3R outdoor enclosure Va is same as volts x amps = watts Kva = K watts = kilo watts = 1000 watts/ so .5 Kva = .5 kilo watt = 500 watts Wiring: 480Volt input connects to H1 H4, and then H2 and H3 are connected together 240Volt input connects to H1 H4, and then H3 connects to H1, and H2 connects to H4 240Volt output connects to X1 X4, and then X2 and X3 are connected together 120Volt output connects to X1 X4, and then X3 connects to X1, and X2 connects to X4 Buy: Buck boost transformer Siemens transformer Acme step down - 120/240 primary/ 120 240 secondary Resources: Acme (Hubble) T279740S specification sheet 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 |
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Resource Change 240 Volt subpanel to 120 Volt |
| Convert 240 volt circuit 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 |
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 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 |
 Multimeter Connect multimeter leads to wood sticks. Keep hands away from power. Test for breaks in wire or Test for voltage, amperage, resistance etc. Voltage is tested across two separate wires. Ohms is tested across both ends of same wire. Amperage is tested along two points on same wire. Typical appliance and electronics 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  When removing insulation from wire, do NOT score or put cuts on surface of copper wire. Doing so increases resistances on wire and creates weak point. Buy tools: Wire strippers at Amazon Linesman pliers Pro linesman plier Needle nose pliers End cutting nippers at Amazon |
 Non-contact voltage tester Test for power without touching connectors NEVER assume power is OFF Buy: Non-contact voltage tester Amazon Electric testers at Amazon Resource: How to test electric power is off  Insulated
lever switch on outdoor lightsOperate outdoor toggle switch safely ... and easily Replaces outdoor cover. Install over top of ordinary toggle switch. Works with single-pole, double-pole, 3PST, 3-way, 4-way switches etc. Buy: Best choice: Cantex lever switch Outdoor lever switches at Amazon |
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Resource: Compare box timers DPDT timers Intermatic Control water heater w/ Z-wave |
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Resource: Intermatic control centers: and parts Digital control centers and parts Tork control centers and parts Subpanels All control centers and parts Enclosures |
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Resource: Programmable timers Countdown timers Off delay timers On delay timers Timer modules Din rail Twin & one-shot Woods Intermatic Tork |
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