Electricians: What kind of outlet is this? (please see link to JPG) and read details. Do you know?

Question

http://www.csun.edu/~hfkin002/z/outlet.jpg

What I know:
Located in USA
Measured across the "V" shape it's 240 volts
It's connected to a 60amp circuit breaker which takes up 4 spaces in my filled up breaker box.
It's unused at this time.

What I need to know:
-What type of appliances generally use this?
-What is the "L" shaped connector above the "V"
-Single phase or 2 phase (whatever that means)
-Can I use the same wiring to convert this to a 120 outlet and free up the space in my box to add new 120v circuits elsewhere?
-I have installed new breakers and added 120v circuits in the past, but I don't understand 220v and what "phase" means.

I really need more 120 circuits in my house.

Answer 1

that is more over a 30amp dryer or a 50 amp range whichever was used at the time of installation.
Now, in the old days, guys would hook up their small Lincoln welders in the garage and tap into it with a dryer or range cord.
if its single phase; that's 220, you can convert easily;
if its three phase, 3 hots, you need to discontinue use of one of the hots...take it back to the panel and remove your 3 phase...however, I doubt you have 3 P in the residential home...its to expensive or unless it used to be a commercial area at one time.
Note: unsure? call an electrician

edit} its taking up 4 wafer breakers in your panel because only the big breakers were used. two for the hot and 1 for the L-shape for ground

110 is 1 hot 1common 1Gd
220 is 2 hots 1 common 1 Gd and in some cases the common acts as the Gd
three phase is 3 hots 1 Gd 1com and some cases the common is not used
depends on the equip.

you should be able to change out your breakers to 8 wafers or 1/2 breakers for the 15 & 20 amp normal use in the house.

Answer 2

it is a 3 wire 30a 240v recept..... I don't understand why it is on a 60a breaker!?..unless yo mean that is your main?.... typically used on older houses for electric dryers.... newer house use 4 wire recepts with seperate neutral and ground.... there are 2 hots and a ground, the L is the ground.
you can't use this for 120v because there is no neutral, unless you were to remove the dp breaker from the fuse box, take one leg off and put it to the neutral bar, and put the other leg on a sp breaker. But then the circuit is ran in 10awg wire, so you need to run 10awg from that recept to wherever else you want to take power, and 10awg is very expensive wire compared to 12 or 14. If you don't know what you're doing get an electrician, electricity is nothing to play around with.

Answer 3

it's a 220 line usually some kind of heavy use appliance like a stove, heater, welder etc.

You can use the four spaces in your circuit breaker box but you will have to replace the wire and the breakers.

Unless you are familiar with this type of wiring project, I strongly suggest you hire an electrician

If you need more 20 amp/ 120 volt lines on you house you may need to expand or replace your currant breaker box. It depends how many amps are coming in from your meter. Older homes only had 60 amp boxes. Newer homes usually have 200 amps or more.

Again I suggest you call a professional. An electrical fire can ruin your day, not to mention burn your house to the ground with you and your family in it.

Answer 4

Single Phase = one power lead, one common, one ground.
Three Phase = three power leads, one ground. No common.

No such thing as two phase in USA.

Three Phase is only commercialy applied power. Not available in homes.

Answer 5

Typically used for an electric clothes dryer.

If you don't have a Clothes dryer, you could certainly remove it, but it might affect your resale value later on.

Answer 6

Clothes dryer