Converting 220v to 110v?

Question

I have a 50amp 220 wired into an area where I am placing a sauna. I initially thought I would need 220v but the sauna I purchased only need 20amp 110v. I tripped the breaker to the 220v outlet and opened it up to find two hot (1 red and 1 black), a neutral (white), and a ground (bare and connected to the outlet). I what to confirm that I would be converting this outlet to 110v correctly. My plan: 1) replace the double pole breaker in the breakerbox with two single pole, 2) attach one of the two hot wires (either red or black) to one of the single pole breakers, 3) attached the other hot wire not used to the neutral bar, 4) inside, connect 2-1 12 ga wire to the original 220v wiring inside the outlet box (hot wire used to the black on the new wiring, neutral to the white wire, ground to ground), 5) add a drop in box for a new 110v outlet, 6) run the new wiring to that outlet, 7) and connect as usual. Is this correct? Thanks.

One more thing to add/confirm... for the two single pole breakers, I would be adding at the least the 20amp that I would be using on the circuit I would be using. For the other single pole breaker, my thought was to just use possibly a 15amp as this would not actually be used. Does this sound correct? Thanks.

Answer 1

I'm a little confused by your step #3 "attached the other hot wire not used to the neutral bar," Do not attach this to the neutral bar. I also do not recommend hooking this up to a breaker. All of your other steps are correct.

I would only hook up the hot, neutral and ground and leave the other wire disconnected in the panel; it doesn't make sense to have a live wire in a location where it wont be used. Put a wire nut on the end of this wire instead of leaving it in there with a bare end.

Answer 2

first, a little bit of basic electrical wiring, on a 220 volt circuit (nothing runs on a true 220; just two 100 volt powering something different in the appliance, ex: a dryer 1-110 volt powers the timer and the other powers the heating element but the dryer requires 220) so the wiring is as follows 1 black =110 volts, 1 red =110 volts, the white is your neutral and the green or bare wire is your ground, also the colors phase out your incoming voltage so as not to overdrain 1 side, black would be first then red then black, and so forth on each side of your panel. For a 50 amp breaker the current wire should be about #8/4 which is usually for cooking ranges so your wire is more than adaquate for whatever you need, change the 50 a breaker out to 2 20 amp breakers and use the white and green for neutral and ground and you will have 2 110 circuits at that point for whatever you need or use 1 and the other for future use good luck

Answer 3

You have it figured out right. I have done a similar thing at my house where an old water heater had been wired. I converted the circuit to two 110V and wired my garage.

The only thing I would change is I would make both new circuits 20 Amp. You have the capacity & if you ever need to use it you are good for 20 amps.

Your plan will work - just an observation.

Answer 4

just coil up the unused wire (red) dont connect it to neutral,,,