How do I install 220 in my home?

Question

My fiancee and I recently bought a house that was built in 1946. the wiring is still all 110 and the breakers are just 2 switches on the kitchen wall.
We need to get a new breaker box and run 220 so we have updated wiring. It'd be nice to use my electric dryer again..
Does anyone know how to do this, or do you know a link that could give us an overview on how this is done?

Answer 1

That is definitely NOT a do it your self task.
You need a new service entrance and possibly new wiring from the power supply pole to the house.
Then new wiring inside the house as well.
Call several electrical contractors and get quotes.
Please do not try to do this your self.

Answer 2

Everyone else has said pretty much the same thing and I agree. I wired houses some time ago. It is true that 220 is really no more than 2-110's put together. The NEC (national electric code) code book is 1000+ pages long. Know it, wire your house. Don't know it, call a professional. THIS IS A CALL THE PRO JOB.


The average static spark that you hear from your finger tips is approx. 50,000 volts. It is not the voltage that KILLS YOU, it is the Amperage. As you see moving from 110 to 220 volts is nothing compared to a static spark. Increasing amperage from 15- 20 amps to 40-60 amps is deadly. That is the true aspect of your intended job 15amps to 60 amps.

I took only 10 weeks of specific electrical training, and that job at that point was far above me. You have to first increase the supply to the house, replace fuses, or small panels with larger services( wires coming into the house). It all has to pass a code/ inspection, if not power company can not turn your power on.

I have 2 thoughts that can clarify the situation here and better describe your situation and what you intend to do.

In school my teacher grabbed both sides of a 110 switch that we questioned worked, if it electrocuted him he would calmly say, "you got juice." I must admit very ballsy (stupid, kinda like snorting milk through your nose).

I have seen two ZAPPINGS by 220volts.

The one was a damp school score board. The guy held on so tight and couldn't move as he was being electrocuted (high voltage contracts muscles, you cant let go). The coach tackled him to make him let go. I have had it happen to me with 110 from a CFL Light.

The other walks around looking at the sky while he hums strangely. I figure it was the sound he heard as the voltage hummed through his body. He is physically there, mentally he is fried.

A considerable amount of house fires are electrical related.

OH THE FINAL DECIDING FACTOR!!!

If I plug in your TV at your house and get electrocuted, I WILL OWN YOU, AND EVERYTHING ELSE YOU OWN. Seems like a BIG RISK for saving a few bucks being a JACK-OF– ALL-TRADES.

Answer 3

You'll need a qualified electrician and they will have to work with your electric company to make sure you have the correct wiring coming into your house. 220 is really just a set of two 110 volt circuits put together against a common common (the white wire is usually the common and black wires are the hot sides). 110 has one hot wire and one common. 220 has two different 110 wires and a common. You need two separate 110 circuits coming into your house to put together for 220. After you have that in your breaker box, then a 220 circuit will have a double breaker, one for each side of the two 110 circuits. Each side is called a leg. When you have the two 110 lines coming in, an electrician can balance the load so about half your use of electricity in the house will be on each 110 circuit.

Unless you are a professional, electricity can be dangerous, and although there are a lot of things you can do if you know how to safely turn off the breakers and de-energize the circuits, working on the breakers themselves and in the box really needs a professional.

Answer 4

You will need a new service from the Utility Co.
They won't connect this without an inspectors approval.
Because the wiring is so old, and an inspector must
be involved, you're likely to be looking at rewiring the
entire house.
The CAN be done by the owner, it's a big project and
but you will have to learn a lot.
See if you can get a Licensed Electrician to install
the new service panel for you.
The wiring is a safer DIY project, but labor intensive.
That's where you can save the bucks.

Answer 5

First of all 220v is not just 2 110 volt legs put together. Each leg is 240 volts, you only get 120 by going to a neutral. Secondly this is a job for a licensed electrician, you as a novice homeowner are in over your head. Everything must be updated from your service drop to your service and meter base to your new panel plus new wires in the house as well. To do a whole house without looking at it, no electrician could say but you are looking at several thousands of dollars.

Answer 6

If you have the ability to run the wiring, you will need to remove all the wall and ceiling material. The replace all the wiring.
A permit is required when this is done. You will need to check with your local building and safety department to see if this is something they allow home owners to do.
If they do allow this, you will have to have them inspect the wiring before you put up the dry wall.
The inspection will ensure you have done this in accordance with electrical code.
The meter on the outside of the house will probably have to be changed. You will have to hire an electrical contractor to do this.

Answer 7

Hey Songbird;

Forget about immediately upgrading your electrical service. You need lotsa help.

A World War II house probably has aluminum wire which must be replaced; 1/2" galvanized iron water pipes which are half (empty) of calcium carbonate; and a dedicated gas line to feed one stove and one heater.

My advice to you is to hire an architect (not a real one). Instead, go to your local college and post a bunch of want ads on every bulletin board you can find, especially in the engineering department; and don't forget the student newspaper. There is no college kid who doesn't want extra money for designing a remodel.

Hire several students to design different floor plans that include all utilities: internet, cable TV, doorbell, telephone, security, garage, hot tub, outside lights, etc.

What about your new bathroom and laundry?

Do your homework first. You can probably buy students' drawings for about $50 a piece.

--Jim

Answer 8

If you opt for the do-it-yourself approach, I recommend the below books, etc. Electrical wiring really isn't that difficult--but you better read up on it! The NEC codes are required by law,
and if you do something that's not per code, a good inspector will flag it when you go to sellyour house. But, more importantly, the codes are proven safe practices, and are necessary to prevent fires, shocks and other accidents.

The Complete Guide to Home Wiring
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Home-Wiring/dp/1589232135/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1283614-3670452?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191350334&sr=1-1

Optional:
Wiring a House (for Pros by Pros)
http://www.amazon.com/Wiring-House-Pros-Rex-Cauldwell/dp/1561585270/ref=sr_1_1/002-1283614-3670452?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191350364&sr=1-1

Optional:
Residential Wiring to the 2005 NEC
http://www.amazon.com/Residential-Wiring-2005-Jeff-Markell/dp/1572181532/ref=sr_1_1/002-1283614-3670452?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191350398&sr=1-1

Optional:
$5 Digital Multimeter
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00066ZZO4/ref=s9_flash_image_seed/002-1283614-3670452?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=08V2N34DXSF6ZD3TQ83B&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=311498401&pf_rd_i=507846

I've read these books, and have started doing my own wiring (and I also used to work as an EE), that with limited handyman abilities. But there's a lot of folks out there who just go to Home Depot, buy there own wires, etc., and start wiring. Worse than creating a mess, these guys are creating serious fire hazards. On the other hand, if you spend the hours studynig these or similar books, and follow their guidelines, you can save yourself some money.

Answer 9

That old, unless it has ever been rewiried it still has Knob and tubing wiring.
It is going to have to be completely rewired and a new service ran to it. That also includes a new service panel.
You are going to need an electrician for that one.
Call around and get several quotes before letting the contract out.

Answer 10

You need a permit, electrician and at least 2-3000 dollars.