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whitewolf7117 · Mar 10, 2013, 07:23 PM

I have a spare outlet in the utility room. Turns out that it is one of two outlets on a circuit used for a refrigerator/freezer and is 20 amp 250v. Before making this determination, I plugged a rechargeable vacuum cleaner into it. Within a few minutes the charger overheated and popped. If this plug allows small appliances to be plugged in, why did the vac charger blow?? Thanks

Kyle_in_rure · Mar 10, 2013, 07:46 PM

What exactly does this 250 volt outlet look like?
Are you sure 240/250 volts is being supplied to it?

ma0641 · Mar 10, 2013, 07:56 PM

Sure it's not a 20/120? 20/240 will not allow appliances, the slots are different.

Kyle_in_rure · Mar 10, 2013, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by ma0641

Sure it's not a 20/120? 20/240 will not allow appliances, the slots are different.

That's what I was thinking... unless for some reason the 120 outlet is being fed 240.

ma0641 · Mar 10, 2013, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Kyle_in_rure

That's what I was thinking....unless for some reason the 120 outlet is being fed 240.

Yes slots are horizontal. Actually, the 250 is a rating, not supplied power.

hkstroud · Mar 10, 2013, 09:25 PM

US, EU or UK?

whitewolf7117 · Mar 11, 2013, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by Kyle_in_rure

What exactly does this 250 volt outlet look like?
Are you sure 240/250 volts is being supplied to it?

OK, mystery partially solved. The outlet was changed before I moved into this house along with many others just for an upgrade (the house had been somewhat remodeled). Could be that they installed the wrong replacement receptacle thinking that it was a 120 where in reality it is apparently a 240. How do I determine for certain that it is a 240? In tracing it, I found that it appears to be running off a circuit fed by two 20amp fuses... the two fuses are together in the panel and both must be off for power to no longer be detected at the outlet.

I'm in the US by the way. Thanks

ma0641 · Mar 11, 2013, 07:50 AM

Yes that sounds like a 240 power supply wired to a 120VAC outlet. They probably put a 20 amp 120VAC outlet instead of a 20 amp 240. Test for power between the hot and ground, each should read 120VAC. You have a couple of choices. Install a 240 VAC outlet or convert one of the hot leads to a neutral and mark it white. Then you would have a 120VAC supply and install a regular 15 or 20 amp outlet. Is there a ground in the circuit?

whitewolf7117 · Mar 11, 2013, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by ma0641

Yes that sounds like a 240 power supply wired to a 120VAC outlet. They probably put a 20 amp 120VAC outlet instead of a 20 amp 240. Test for power between the hot and ground, each should read 120VAC. You have a couple of choices. Install a 240 VAC outlet or convert one of the hot leads to a neutral and mark it white. Then you would have a 120VAC supply and install a regular 15 or 20 amp outlet. Is there a ground in the circuit?

OK, you've got my attention. Assuming this is a 240VAC (no reason to believe otherwise) I would like to know more about the conversion to 120VAC as I have no use for the 240VAC at that location. Not sure that it is something I will attempt unless very simple... otherwise, I will get an electrician friend to perhaps do it... but he is kind of hard to tie down. What I have there now is simply a ground wire, a black and a white. Let me know what other info you may need. Thanks

hkstroud · Mar 11, 2013, 09:18 AM

I don't think you have any choice. You must either change the wiring to make the outlet 120V or change out the outlet to a 240V outlet. To not do one or the other is dangerous. 240V outlets are made so you can't plug in a 120 appliance.

Changing the wiring to make the outlet 120V is not difficult. You simply move the white wire from the place where it is connected to the fuse and connect it to the neutral/ground buss. However, it does not sound like you would be comfortable working in your electrical panel. Call an electrician.

Question. How did you know that this was a 240V outlet? And if you knew that why did you plug a 120V appliance into it?

whitewolf7117 · Mar 11, 2013, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

I don't think you have any choice. You must either change the wiring to make the outlet 120V or change out the outlet to a 240V outlet. To not do one or the other is dangerous. 240V outlets are made so you can't plug in a 120 appliance.

Changing the wiring to make the outlet 120V is not difficult. You simply move the white wire from the place where it is connected to the fuse and connect it to the neutral/ground buss. However, it does not sound like you would be comfortable working in your electrical panel. Call an electrician.

Question. How did you know that this was a 240V outlet? And if you knew that why did you plug a 120V appliance into it?

As noted in my initial question, I didn't know that it was a 20amp250V at the time that I plugged into it. Someone before me had put in a 20amp120V receptacle... I found out the hard way :) Guess I didn't make that very clear.

And, yes, you are correct in that I don't feel real comfortable working on electrical. I can follow directions but don't have much experience to know if something isn't quite right as I go along. Hoping to start learning a bit more with the assistance of this site. Thanks for your response.

hkstroud · Mar 11, 2013, 11:57 AM

Hoping to start learning a bit more with the assistance of this site. Thanks for your response.

OK.

You said fuses, do you mean circuit breakers?

whitewolf7117 · Mar 11, 2013, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

I don't think you have any choice. You must either change the wiring to make the outlet 120V or change out the outlet to a 240V outlet. To not do one or the other is dangerous. 240V outlets are made so you can't plug in a 120 appliance.

Changing the wiring to make the outlet 120V is not difficult. You simply move the white wire from the place where it is connected to the fuse and connect it to the neutral/ground buss. However, it does not sound like you would be comfortable working in your electrical panel. Call an electrician.

Question. How did you know that this was a 240V outlet? And if you knew that why did you plug a 120V appliance into it?

Following your answer, I researched a bit more and found more answers on another thread ( https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/electr...er-219255.html ) from this site. As you suggested, it is simple and straight forward... with one exception.

I have a 15 amp breaker not in use. Could I just move the neutral (white) to ground on the buss and attach the black to the 15 amp breaker... and obviously install a 15amp 120V receptacle to replace the existing. Only difference is that I'm using existing 12 ga wire from the 20amp 250V circuit. According to other answers... this should be fine unless there is perhaps a local code violation. Give me your thoughts. Thanks

hkstroud · Mar 11, 2013, 02:58 PM

What is amperage of present breaker and is it a double breaker or two single breakers.
Yes you can move the black to a 15 breaker but why do it unless the present breaker is a double breaker.

ma0641 · Mar 11, 2013, 04:51 PM

12AWG on a 15 AMP is fine. Very common to use white as a conductor, as long as it is marked as such since 240 VAC has no neutral. Therefore, converting back to a 120VAC circuit is acceptable. You commented about putting the white on the ground bar. This infers a fairly old box as there are separate neutral and ground bars in newer boxes. Just be careful with an open box, there is plenty of current there.

Kyle_in_rure · Mar 11, 2013, 06:26 PM

To add to what others have said, if you decide to work in the panel, the two wires leading to your main breaker will still be hot, even if the main is off.

whitewolf7117 · Mar 12, 2013, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

I don't think you have any choice. You must either change the wiring to make the outlet 120V or change out the outlet to a 240V outlet. To not do one or the other is dangerous. 240V outlets are made so you can't plug in a 120 appliance.

Changing the wiring to make the outlet 120V is not difficult. You simply move the white wire from the place where it is connected to the fuse and connect it to the neutral/ground buss. However, it does not sound like you would be comfortable working in your electrical panel. Call an electrician.

Question. How did you know that this was a 240V outlet? And if you knew that why did you plug a 120V appliance into it?

Thank you for the reply. I found another thread here on converting to a 120V as well. With that info and more that I found by Googling, I am now confident to make the change. I'm not totally unfamiliar with wiring... just cautious. Thanks again for your help.

hkstroud · Mar 12, 2013, 03:57 PM

I would add that since someone did something screwy here, check the outlet to insure that the white wire is on the neutral side (left, silver screw).

Handyman2007 · Mar 13, 2013, 04:55 PM

Best not mess with it if you are not comfortable with it. Even if you are friends with an electrician, offer him something to come check it and repair it. You may be able to pin him down that way. In the mean time, put a piece of duct tape over the outlet so no one else makes the same mistake!