View Full Version : Black wire red wire and white wire spliced to 10/3 on a 220 circuit
gregorymeade33
Jan 17, 2010, 01:40 PM
I have installed a disconnect between my dryer receptable and a tanning bed. I want to splice the 10/3 box wire to the existing 220 wiring at the dryer.
Dryer= red, black, white and bare ground wires
10/3 wire= black, white, and bare ground
How do I splice these to allow the disconnect box to protect the tanning bed
14u2c
Jan 17, 2010, 10:12 PM
Don't splice run a new circuit as this might overload the current circuit if the dryer is on and you turn the tanning bed on at the same time!
gregorymeade33
Jan 18, 2010, 04:31 AM
[QUOTE=14u2c;2181535]
Don't splice run a new circuit as this might overload the current circuit if the dryer is on and you turn the tanning bed on at the same time!
I forgot to mention that the reason I have a disconnet box is that my panel box and breakers are Federal Pacific and they are now obselete w/o an after market breaker less than $90.00. The quick disconnect is to keep the tanning bed circuit from drawing more than 20 amps.
14u2c
Jan 18, 2010, 09:37 AM
You still can't safely do this the only way to do it isto double wire under the lugs of the dryer recp and that in its self presents dangers.save you money up and get a new breaker.not being tan beats being burnt to a crisp when you house catchs fire from a jack leg electrical job!! do a web search for city electric supply.. ask them to order you a 2 pole fp breaker from eagle circuit breaker.eagle may even sell direct to you get there number call them and ask! They should only cost 60.00 max..
Missouri Bound
Jan 15, 2011, 08:39 PM
I think I would have spent the money on replacing that old FP panel before I bought a tanning bed. Also the splice idea isn't allowed for numerous reasons. One being that the dryer circuit is a dedicated circuit, and nothing is to be tapped from it. Heed 14u2c's advice and do it correctly. In my humble opinion I would replace that panel and go from there.
stanfortyman
Jan 16, 2011, 05:40 AM
I'l just add my agreement that this is NOT allowed, so PLEASE do this the right way.
New replacement breakers ARE available for FPE panels.
I also agree that spending the money on replacing the FPE panel as opposed to a tanning bed would have been a much more wise choice. Then again I realize the average person's mindset.
hkstroud
Jan 16, 2011, 07:45 AM
It should also be noted that a black/white/bare ground is not a 10/3 cable. That is a 10/2 cable. If the tanning bed is a 120/240 appliance requiring a 10/3 cable (black/red/white/ground) you can't do it anyway.
stanfortyman
Jan 16, 2011, 08:33 AM
It should also be noted that a black/white/bare ground is not a 10/3 cable. That is a 10/2 cable. If the tanning bed is a 120/240 appliance requiring a 10/3 cable (black/red/white/ground) you can't do it anyway.Wow. I totally missed that.
That cable is completely wrong for the dryer to start with, and adding another 120v load would just increase the neutral load on the BARE GROUND wire. NOT a good thing.
Not only would I run a new circuit to the tanning bed, I would run the proper and safe circuit to the dryer as well.
stanfortyman
Jan 16, 2011, 08:35 AM
You know what else we missed? The fact that this thread is from a year ago, not this January. :o
hkstroud
Jan 16, 2011, 09:20 AM
Damm
stanfortyman
Jan 16, 2011, 09:25 AM
I knew that 10/11 thing would be a pain. LOL
nottellin
Mar 3, 2011, 10:24 PM
Lol this guys house probably burnt down 8 months ago lol
jamesdavino
Nov 18, 2011, 07:44 AM
First of all your dryer circuit and any other 2 pole breaker in the panel is supposed to be a DEDICATED circuit and cannot LEGALLY be branched off to feed something else, but as we all know, back in the days when your house was built probably around the 50's and maybe the 60's, a lot of old timer's would cheat the system and break the continious feed and install a Junction box under the house the house and either tape the hell out of it or use a wire nut and then tape the hell out of it... This is not allowed. Please do not do this. As everyone advised, please get someone to run a dedicated circuit to the tanning bed. I had cancer, but I've never been burned to death in a house fire...
stanfortyman
Nov 18, 2011, 11:39 AM
First of all your dryer circuit and any other 2 pole breaker in the panel is supposed to be a DEDICATED circuit and cannot LEGALLY be branched off of to feed something else,....
Do you have a code citation to back up this (incorrect) statement? :confused:
donf
Nov 18, 2011, 05:52 PM
James,
I had this issue and ended up taking it to the NEC.
There is no prohibition on connecting additional outlets to the dryer outlet.
There are amperage concerns, I don't remember the code sites but I can probably dig them up.
donf
Nov 18, 2011, 06:18 PM
Found it!
"And now the response from NEC
1. Section 210.23 applies in all cases and requires that the single utilization equipment load or the combined utilization equipment load not exceed the rating of the branch circuit.
2. Section 210.23(B) limits the load of any one cord-and-plug-connected utilization equipment to 24 amperes where multiple loads are supplied.
3. Section 210.23(B) does not limit the combined cord-and-plug-connected or permanently connected utilization equipment load to 24 amperes. The main requirement of 210.23 covering the total load on the branch circuit is applicable.
4. The circuit sizing and overcurrent protection requirements for electric welders are covered in Article 630.
jamesdavino
Nov 19, 2011, 06:55 AM
Sorry guy's, while it may be permitted technically I in good conscience can't and won't do work like that. I've alway's and will continue to keep the customer safe from themselves the best way I can. I'm not saying you all would do that, but I'd rather not give a customer more rope to hang themselves. What he left out is what the tanning bed draws and it well exceeds the 30 amps for the dryer... What they don't know could kill them or at least the house...
stanfortyman
Nov 19, 2011, 07:43 AM
Sorry guy's, while it may be permitted technically I in good conscience can't and won't do work like that.So you went from "ILLEGAL" in all caps, to saying it can technically be done. Nice save.
What do you mean "work like that"?
I've alway's and will continue to keep the customer safe from themselves the best way I can. I'm not saying you all would do that, but I'd rather not give a customer more rope to hang themselves.Just what is unsafe about it?
Not that it is at all common in a residence, but in theory HOW is several 240v receptacles ANY different that several 120v receptacles?
As long as permissible loads are followed, what is the difference?
What he left out is what the tanning bed draws and it well exceeds the 30 amps for the dryer....What they don't know could kill them or at least the house....HOW in the world could something like this kill them or the house. PLEASE tell me, I am all ears.
I am almost offended by this over dramatic post. It casts a light that anyone who would even think of doing such a thing is irresponsible and would leave a customer with an unsafe condition. This is NOT even close to true. I think it is yet another case of an uninformed contractor using fear to cover his lack of knowledge.
jamesdavino
Nov 19, 2011, 12:28 PM
Not going to get into it with you.Sounds like the way your defending it You do it a lot or at least you had in the past. You sound young and got quite a bug up your butt. Homeowners do very stupid things when they do the work themselves. This whole thing was about what a homeowner would do if he thought he could get away without hiring an electrician. Fortyman, our conversations are over...
stanfortyman
Nov 19, 2011, 12:55 PM
Not going to get into it with you.Sounds like the way your defending it You do it a lot or at least you had in the past.I can't remember ever doing this in a residential setting. I've done it quite a bit in a commercial/industrial setting.
I was merely asking what is so dangerous or wrong about it. Do you have a valid reasons for being so vehemently against it? :confused:
You sound young and got quite a bug up your butt.No, I'm in my late 40's with around 25 years experience. I consider myself an old man. :p
fortyman, our conversations are over....That's a shame. I though we were having a mature conversation about our trade. It's a shame you can't handle being disagreed with.
Discussions like this can be fun and enlightening. Oh well.
donf
Nov 19, 2011, 03:54 PM
FYI, my response was based on a very similar situation. The OP wanted to splice a welder off the same circuit. I flat out told him and cited the fact that if both devices were on there would be an over-current trip.
I even took it a step further and used a situation where the dryer was installed in a location where the person using the dryer would not know that someone was using the welder.
Regardless, the NEC it said was allowable in the code.
It is not something I would ever advocate or do myself. But it is allowed.
Please remember that this is a DIY site geared to residential installations, so more than likely the OP has no real idea what they are asking about.
Also, I see no reason why you should not continue your discourses with Stan. We all learn when things get kicked around.
Opinion Only.
jamesdavino
Nov 20, 2011, 08:15 AM
I don't question what a qualified electrician does, but I've seen homeowners DIY work and this is what scares me more than anything and I rather talk a homeowner into running dedicated circuits to avoid having an overcurrent issue especially when there are children in the house who could care less about maybe having the dryer on and using the tanning bed at the same time.. Hell, what do they know and now-a-days, the kids only care about themselves... I've seen what happens when you don't factor the human element into the equation. It's not a perfect world. This factor must be in the equation... Sorry guy's,Maybe I sound a little too adamant about this, it's because I am... Listen guy's , Stan, Don you guy's have a great Thanksgiving, I've got a TO DO LIST longer than my "TO DO"... JD
tkrussell
Nov 20, 2011, 01:51 PM
I am closing this thread.
The original question is close to 2 years old.
The simple issue is a receptacle circuit can serve multiple receptacles for convenience or utilization. IF for some reason, both devices are operated at the same time, the circuit is protected by a limiting device.
While this is to be avoided if at all possible, the Code cannot be as specifically restrictive so as to make a building completely idiot proof.
This is the human factor of the Code. Humans need the reasonable access to properly size and protected receptacles.
There is no Code, engineering, or trade reason to not to use a specific circuit for a multiple purposes. The human that desires the convenience now needs to be responsible and understand their electrical system, and use it properly.
The original poster even thought of a fusible disconnect to fuse that section of circuit specifically for the tanning bed.
Unfortunate seems he did not get a reasonable answer back Jan 2010. Some questions do slip by. He asked the right question, how to splice the wires. I hope he got it right. No reason for him to buy a new costly breaker for an obsolete panel that should be changed. ( I don't have any argument about investing in a new panel instead of a tanning bed, but we all make choices.)
Under normal circumstances, no electrician here would intentionally install multiple outlets on a dryer circuit, however if requested by a customer, we have no reason not to, as long as the customer is clearly informed how the system would work and exactly how to use the outlets.
Labels are big now. The new 2011 Code requires labels on everything for identification and instructions. With proper labeling , and protection and wiring of the circuit, reasonable precautions have been taken.
There are many "trade practices" that we all follow. We all have our how we do things. This question, while opinion is a great way of communicating ideas, does need the correct answer also.
I have changed my mind, and will leave this thread open for more discussion.
donf
Nov 21, 2011, 06:56 AM
Can you please give me the citation in the NEC that says the dryer circuit is to be a dedicated circuit.
I realize how old the original post was, but it was reopened this month, with incorrect information.
I put an earlier post that I received from the NEC regarding this exact situation. According to the NEC, there is no prohibition on extending the dryer branch circuit.
Right now, I suspect that if the manufacturers instructions call for the circuit to be dedicated, then that would be the governing rule.
tkrussell
Nov 21, 2011, 07:13 AM
Don, who are you asking?
I am not saying the dryer needs a dedicated circuit. I know it does not , and you did the work to confirm for yourself to get an answer directly from NFPA.
donf
Nov 21, 2011, 07:33 AM
Good morning, TK.
It is a generalized question. I answered with the above post before I saw your response.
Right now the only reason I can think of to require a dedicated circuit is if the Manufacturer's "Installation Electrical Requirements" state the a dedicated circuit must be used.
I made that statement because we must follow the manufacturer's instructions over the NEC, unless of course it is a code violation, correct?