This junction box in my attic is linked to a 20 amp breaker in our electrical breaker box outside. From my understanding,the white wires are nuetral,the black and red ones are hot,both black and red together would make 220/240 volts. so if i add a 120 outlet and use the white and black or white and red,i should get 120 volts,right?Does this mean this 120 outlet will be rated to 20 amps like the breaker? Help would be much appreciated.Thanks.
2007-09-11 13:34:17 · 11 answers · asked by r_jrodriguez 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
This junction box can be killed with a single pole 20 amp breaker in our breaker box. This junction box has one side of the phase connected to a set of outlets in one bedroom.the other phase is connected to an outlet in the attic as well as the attic light bullb. The outlet in the attic is connected to one section of the air conditoner. That air conditioner section is ran on 120 volts. All the other junction boxes in the attic are wired the same way. One side of the phase and neutral are connected to outlets and the other side of the phase and neutral are connected to either other outlets or lights. There is only one 220 outlet in the house and thats in the garage. It was put there a while back by my dad for a welder. other than that,we dont have any other 220 outlets anywhere else in the house.
This outlet i wanna add will be powering some stereo equipment.Should this be a problem?Thanks for all the replies,i really appreciate it!
2007-09-11 20:26:10 · update #1
In responce to tb417,yes,everything is gas in the house,which would explain the absence of 220 outlets.To be honest,i don't honestly know if the 20 amp breaker that is used to kill all power to that particular junction box is a single or double pole breaker.It has only one toggle handle so im assuming its a single.All i do know like i descibed before is both the black and red are definetly hot,and they both read 220 together. I dont know if it helps to know this is an older house,made around the late 60's,early 70's or so. But this weekend i will be installing an outlet with 12/2 romex to one side of the circuit that is connected other outlets in another bedroom. Thanks all for the help,i appreciate it.
2007-09-15 10:29:46 · update #2
Since you added more information I am really confused. First you make it sound like a multi wire circuit with 2 ungrounded conductors (hots) that share a neutral. Very common. But then you say the whole thing can be killed with a single pole breaker. That means both ungrounded wires (hot) are on the same circuit and most likely getting near the capacity of the circuit. And the single neutral is possibly over loaded now.
I think you should call an electrician to help you. Something is not making sense at this point. Be careful of all the bad answers you are getting from untrained people.
Irv has good advice as usual too. Be careful and check out what he suggested.
2007-09-11 15:46:53 · answer #1 · answered by John himself 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Take the cover off the panel, Are there red wires connected to any of the breakers? Are there a few? If so, it sounds to me that you have an older home that has been rewired at some point. Do the black and red wires BOTH go off when you turn off a 110 breaker (How are you verifying this?) If the black and red are in fact on different breakers, you can hook up black/white/bare or red/white/bare to a 12/2 with ground romex and it will be a true 20-amp circuit.
P.S. Is your Range/stove, water heater, furnace and dryer all gas? If so, that would explain the lack of 220 ( 2-pole) breakers.
2007-09-15 07:20:04 · answer #2 · answered by tb417 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That situation will work, but you did not mention if the circuit was on a 2 phase ( double pole ) 20amp breaker or if the circuit was connected to 2 single phase ( single pole ) breakers. Not that it matters a whole lot, it is just good to know these things and label them appropriately. The outlet is rated 15amp and some come rated 20amps. You can put either one and be fine. The circuit will hold up to 20amps but you will probably not ever get over 3 amps in a living room single outlet.
Remember to kill the circuit for both phases and hook up the ground ( green wire ).
2007-09-11 13:47:25 · answer #3 · answered by Kris_B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
man you have it all wrong what you have is a 120 amp circuit to have 220/240 you would have to have a double pole breaker in your panel but you can use either rt5he black and white or the red and white for a 120 amp circuit but hope toy don't get an overload the whole system is not a good idea.
2007-09-15 10:04:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can, but this circuit is operating something. The possibilities are:
1) Water heater
2) clothesDryer
3) Range
4) Pool/spa motor or heater
5) House electric heat
6) Air conditioner
7) Outlets for garage, power tools air compressor
8) Well
If you use this for something else, you may be losing power to a needed appliance!
Use 1 white and 1 black/red to get 120. Yes, it will rated at the 20 AMPS. Make sure and use at least # 12 wire for this.
2007-09-11 15:13:02 · answer #5 · answered by john the engineer 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No you can not connect this way. First, for any outlet connected to a 20 amp breaker you need an outlet that is configured differently so the user is aware of the 20 amp limit. Secondly, you will need to use larger wire (#12) for 20 amps. And thirdly you may using much of the 20 amps in the present circuit, and that may leave little or none before the breaker begins to trip after the addition. Too much of a headache. Don't do it. Try to get another circuit run in.
2007-09-11 16:57:47 · answer #6 · answered by len b 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
John, as usual, covered it pretty well but
part of your 'details` post worries me.
"This junction box can be killed with a single pole 20 amp breaker."
Unless there has been some 'Homer the
chimp` wiring done, that box is controlled
by TWO single pole breakers, or one
TWO pole breaker.
Be very sure that the whole box,
(BOTH hots), are 'dead` before messing
around in there.
2007-09-12 07:37:32 · answer #7 · answered by Irv S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if you use any wires use the white and black, use a Volt -meter to check voltage, should be 120, if the double set is 20 amp on each breaker, yes it will be 20 amps,
Turn the power off before messing with it,
110 will kill you quicker than 220,
2007-09-11 13:51:30 · answer #8 · answered by William B 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I want to agree with both 1 & 2, but I'd also wnat to know WHAT the 220 is operating. Obviously Clothing Dryers/ ovens and such function on 220, but certainly on separate breakers. I'd be curious before I branched off for any receptacles.
Steven Wolf
2007-09-11 14:15:37 · answer #9 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no if there are only 2 wires coming into the j-box both are HOT the black is hot as well as the white.
If there is a red black white
red and black are hot or line and the white is neutral you can hook it up to that but would be better if you ran a 12/2 romax from your panel to the outlet that you are installing but in any case turn off the power if this sounds to much for you than call in a pro remember electric can KILL in a heart beat
2007-09-11 19:02:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋