I have a 240 circuit, to make it a 110 circuit. I need to remove one of the hot wires?
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I have a 240 circuit, to make it a 110 circuit. I need to remove one of the hot wires?
A true 240v circuit consists of dual pole breaker with two hot wires and one ground. There is no natural wire. This breaker comes with single handle that ties the breaker's on/off
Together. To continue with my answer I'll assume you have a true 240v breaker and it's
Wired with 3 wires, i.e. 2 HOT to the dual pole breaker, and one to the ground bar. I do not recommend simply disconnecting one hot wire. My recommendation is to purchase a single
Pole breaker.
Here is how to install it in the main panel. Shutdown the power to the main panel. Losen
The screws on the breaker and pull the 2 HOT wires out of the breaker. Carefully remove the 240v dual pole breaker. Take one of the 2 HOT wire, take the white wire if there is one,
Or take the red wire and mark it with a WHITE tape, then insert this wire into the natural bus bar. Tighten the screw with the proper torque. Now take the new single pole breaker, install the black wire to it. Tighten the screw with the proper torque. Set the new
Breaker to off position and carefully insert the new
Breaker into the bus bar. Double check to make sure the ground wire is properly
Installed at the ground bar. You are almost done with your main panel work. One more thing
Left to do is to cover the extra slot opening of the main panel where the dual-pole breaker
Used to be at. You can find them at home centers or electrical shops. All openings of the
Main panel should be covered. Properly secure the main panel cover.
Now you need to make sure wires are properly wired on the outlet side. Noting you used
The white or marked white for natural, bare for ground, and the black wire for HOT.
NOTE: As long as the new breaker is set to OFF position, you can now turn on
The power to main panel. HOWEVER, even though the breaker is set to off,
I would use a volt meter or a electrical probe to make sure the wires
On the outlet side that you are going to work on has no power. NEVER
Work on a live circuit, and please read my disclaimer below before you
Think of doing this work yourself.
Disclaimer: Working with electricity and/or in main panel is DANGEROUS, and
Can cause SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH. Even when you shutdown the panel,
There are power to the two HOT screws that brings power to the main panel as well as
The two HOT service wire that's in the main panel. If you haven't done this type
Of work before, I void all of my recommendations and only recommend to hire
A competent licensed electrician and make sure to check with your local electrical
Authorities for any work permit you may have to get.
Thanks this helps a lot... I do have one question:
"Properly wired on the outlet side". I believe I got it... just what to be sure...
Currently I don't have the outlet wired.
It use to to be wired to hot tub but its been removed...
Now the wires are taped on the deck..
I believe its White, Black and ground (copper).
I'll check for sure tonight.
But from what I been reading I feel, I should see more than 3 wires??
A 240v/120v circuit has 4 wires: 2 for HOT, 1 natural, 1 ground. The natural wire
Provides the capability of using 120v on that circuit if one needs it.
Sounds like this is a dedicated circuit. If you find 4 wires, use the green/bare
For ground, use the black for HOT, use the white for natural, and cap off the
Extra wire. Again, noting the way the 120v breaker has been wired in the main panel.
If this 120v conversion circuit will be used around or close to a wet location,
You must use a GFCI outlet on a regular fuse, OR use a regular outlet with a GFCI fuse.
The GFCI outlet on a regular fuse allows the convenience of being able to reset the GFCI
Outlet at the location, however the wires are still LIVE. The regular outlet on a GFCI fuse,
Has the safety at which the fuse cuts power to the wire/circuit, however one needs to visit
The main panel to reset it.
I don't believe that a 240v circuit requires a neutral (not "natural") wire. The neutral is needed if you are using it to provide 120 volts by connecting a load between one HOT and the neutral.Quote:
Originally Posted by abcsalem
Which is why he wrote...Quote:
Originally Posted by Perito
Quote:
Originally Posted by abcsalem
stanfortyman is correct, of course. However, along with the "natural", it seemed that there was a big chance of confusion.
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