[AsthaB]

Hi,

Can you offer any tips/concerns regarding attaching 220 to a dryer and water heater that are being moved to a new location in the house. The circuit panel is 15 years old. A friend is doing this job and I can't quite ascertain his level of knowledge. I have limited funds and desperately want this done (and done right). Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. I'm in unincorporated King Co. Washington.

Here are some of my specific questions:
1) Do we need to buy new circuit breakers for existing appliances?

2) I know we need to shut the main circuit off, but is there a proper way to shut off/turn on to minimize spike/s on the line?

3) Anything you can say about codes would be greatly appreciated. The new 220 is already laid in place... is just isn't connected at either end. When the 'big move' happens, the electrical will become an issue. We are dealing with the

4) Special tools or products that are needed to do this job?

5) Rough cost to have a pro come do this? Things I should look for in assessing the pro-ness of a so-called professional? Certain certifications? Other stuff?

Thanks so much!
Wendy

[stanfortyman]

I think if you are unsure of your friend's competence you should NOT have him do it. There is no magic or mystery to 240v appliances, even 120/240v like your dryer.

WHO ran the circuits that you say are "in place"? Was this new wire run to the new locations?

WHAT wire (specifically) was run to these locations?

You do not need new breakers, provided the old ones were proper in the first place.

How much for a pro? Who knows?? With the information provided it is impossible to even take a random guess.

[KISS]

Let me address 1 and 2:

1. The wires and breakers have to be rated properly. New dryer installations will be 4 wire from now on, so if your moving a circuit, it should be 4 wire. L1,L2,N, and ground. If the breakers are correct, then new breakers are not required.

2) You may not have to shut the main off, if using existing breakers. Most competent electricians will work with the main breaker on without incident.

You can minimize spikes by turning the main off and then all of the breakers off. Do your work and turn them on 1 at at a time with the heaviest loads first. Turn sensitive things off before starting lke TV's and computers.