Was the dining room outlet used to run a 240V AC unit at one time-from another resident that lived in that apt?
using a transformer to use a 240 volt central vacuum on a 120 volt outlet
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n0oxy
Well-known member
having an outlet installed
I'm not sure whether it was ever used for a window air conditioner, but my landlord said that if I want to have a 240 volt outlet installed it's fine with her.
Mike
I'm not sure whether it was ever used for a window air conditioner, but my landlord said that if I want to have a 240 volt outlet installed it's fine with her.
Mike
madman
Well-known member
Just be sure not to spend money for no reason. I'm still banking on that outlet being wired for 240v. I'm also still assuming you have a 240v outlet behind the stove.
n0oxy
Well-known member
outlet
I looked behind the stove, there is nothing there, my stove is gas. I think I have decided which company here I will ask to see if it's possible to have an outlet installed, and the first thing I'm going to ask them to check is that outlet in the dining room. As you said, why install an entire new circuit if we don't have to?
Mike
I looked behind the stove, there is nothing there, my stove is gas. I think I have decided which company here I will ask to see if it's possible to have an outlet installed, and the first thing I'm going to ask them to check is that outlet in the dining room. As you said, why install an entire new circuit if we don't have to?
Mike
n0oxy
Well-known member
update
So, I'm hoping to get my 240 volt outlet installed July 31, if it's possible. Really excited, then I can get some 240 volt super duper central vacuum beasts.
Mike
So, I'm hoping to get my 240 volt outlet installed July 31, if it's possible. Really excited, then I can get some 240 volt super duper central vacuum beasts.
Mike
n0oxy
Well-known member
great news
I'm happy to report that I now have a 240 volt outlet in the dining room, and it was very interesting how things were wired. Madman was correct, that outlet had once been a 240 volt outlet, to make a 120 volt, whoever did the wiring actually used the ground wire for neutral. That doesn't sound like the proper way to do things but it's been that way since I was here. Now here is where it gets interesting. The breaker for that outlet is a 40 amp breaker for an electric range, and it turns out I did have a range outlet I just didn't recognize it. It's a separate box behind the stove and actually uses two fuses, and that outlet in the dining room feeds off of that same circuit. I'm not exactly sure what the electrician did, but somehow he was able to get the second hot wire back again, probably from that neutral ground wire, and the meter showed it as 239 volts. He installed two new 20 amp fuses in that box in the kitchen and left the 40 amp breaker in the box. He literally did not have to drill any holes or run any new wires, the way he described it, he made things the way they were originally when that outlet was installed. It took about 15 minutes, and cost $190. I'm guessing it would have been much more expensive if he had needed to run a whole new circuit, but we were able to use what was already there. So I now have a NEMA 6-20 amp plug in my dining room and can get some 240 volt central vacuum units, really excited.
Mike
I'm happy to report that I now have a 240 volt outlet in the dining room, and it was very interesting how things were wired. Madman was correct, that outlet had once been a 240 volt outlet, to make a 120 volt, whoever did the wiring actually used the ground wire for neutral. That doesn't sound like the proper way to do things but it's been that way since I was here. Now here is where it gets interesting. The breaker for that outlet is a 40 amp breaker for an electric range, and it turns out I did have a range outlet I just didn't recognize it. It's a separate box behind the stove and actually uses two fuses, and that outlet in the dining room feeds off of that same circuit. I'm not exactly sure what the electrician did, but somehow he was able to get the second hot wire back again, probably from that neutral ground wire, and the meter showed it as 239 volts. He installed two new 20 amp fuses in that box in the kitchen and left the 40 amp breaker in the box. He literally did not have to drill any holes or run any new wires, the way he described it, he made things the way they were originally when that outlet was installed. It took about 15 minutes, and cost $190. I'm guessing it would have been much more expensive if he had needed to run a whole new circuit, but we were able to use what was already there. So I now have a NEMA 6-20 amp plug in my dining room and can get some 240 volt central vacuum units, really excited.
Mike
n0oxy
Well-known member
drier hook up and range plug
Here is a bit more information. There is definitely a drier hook up in the basement and a dedicated breaker for that, there are two other large breakers and I have no idea what they do and the electrician was not totally sure either. I'm not sure what a range outlet is supposed to look like, now that I know I have one, I took a look at it, from what I can tell, it has three fairly large rectangular prong holes, the two on top are somewhat diagonal, and the one below it is more straight. I'm guessing that might be a NEMA 14 plug but not sure.
Mike
Here is a bit more information. There is definitely a drier hook up in the basement and a dedicated breaker for that, there are two other large breakers and I have no idea what they do and the electrician was not totally sure either. I'm not sure what a range outlet is supposed to look like, now that I know I have one, I took a look at it, from what I can tell, it has three fairly large rectangular prong holes, the two on top are somewhat diagonal, and the one below it is more straight. I'm guessing that might be a NEMA 14 plug but not sure.
Mike
n0oxy
Well-known member
another update
According to UPS, I should get my Drainvac twin turbo on Tuesday, really excited. Besides having the 240 volt outlet installed, I did purchase the quick 220 power supply as well, this connects to two 120 volt outlets that are out of phase and combines them to give you 240 volts. I received that yesterday and was able to find two outlets in my apartment that were out of phase so I will now have two ways to power my 240 volt units. I'm still glad I have the dedicated 240 volt outlet since that will be easier to hook the units to without having extension cords all over the place. If anyone is interested, I will include a link to the quick 220 model that I purchased.
Mike
https://www.quick220.com/-P-106.html
According to UPS, I should get my Drainvac twin turbo on Tuesday, really excited. Besides having the 240 volt outlet installed, I did purchase the quick 220 power supply as well, this connects to two 120 volt outlets that are out of phase and combines them to give you 240 volts. I received that yesterday and was able to find two outlets in my apartment that were out of phase so I will now have two ways to power my 240 volt units. I'm still glad I have the dedicated 240 volt outlet since that will be easier to hook the units to without having extension cords all over the place. If anyone is interested, I will include a link to the quick 220 model that I purchased.
Mike
https://www.quick220.com/-P-106.html
This same J-box for converting 2-120V to 240V is shown in the Hypervac duct cleaner vacuum site-on another thread here.It allows you to run their 240V portable duct vacuum from two opposing 120V outlets.Since the Hypervac 240V unit has a Variable Speed Drive on its motor can be set to a speed that won't blow breakers or fuses.And the motor starts gently and graduately.3 Hp.
n0oxy
Well-known member
got my Drainvac Twin Turbo
Got my first 240 volt central vacuum unit yesterday, in a word it's awesome. The outlet I had installed definitely works, I plan on testing it with the quick 220 volt power supply tonight. What a beast!
Got my first 240 volt central vacuum unit yesterday, in a word it's awesome. The outlet I had installed definitely works, I plan on testing it with the quick 220 volt power supply tonight. What a beast!
madman
Well-known member
"Madman was correct"
I usually am. I'm also very humble.
I'm glad I could help.
I usually am. I'm also very humble.
I'm glad I could help.
n0oxy
Well-known member
yes, you were correct
Yes, you were correct about that outlet once being a 240 volt, I would have never thought of that, just curious, what made you suspect that? Have you seen a lot of apartments where that was the case? I'm guessing that whenever it was turned in to a 120 volt outlet, whoever changed it just used the ground wire as the neutral, I'm not sure what the second hot wire was doing all this time, I guess just sitting there, but the electrician had no problems turning it back in to a 240 volt outlet, he did not have to drill a single hole or run a single new wire, I'm guessing everything he needed was already there and it was just a matter of putting the wires in their proper place, works great, and the quick 220 power supply works great as well, I would definitely suggest that if you need 240 volts and don't want to install an outlet.
Mike
Yes, you were correct about that outlet once being a 240 volt, I would have never thought of that, just curious, what made you suspect that? Have you seen a lot of apartments where that was the case? I'm guessing that whenever it was turned in to a 120 volt outlet, whoever changed it just used the ground wire as the neutral, I'm not sure what the second hot wire was doing all this time, I guess just sitting there, but the electrician had no problems turning it back in to a 240 volt outlet, he did not have to drill a single hole or run a single new wire, I'm guessing everything he needed was already there and it was just a matter of putting the wires in their proper place, works great, and the quick 220 power supply works great as well, I would definitely suggest that if you need 240 volts and don't want to install an outlet.
Mike
madman
Well-known member
Dude, tons, TONS of older apartments and houses have added-on dedicated outlets for window air conditioners. It's extremely common, especially in Chicago, a place that's temperate with hot summers. And especially on buildings that have been fitted with central air conditioning, those outlets are almost always converted to 120 volts since they are no longer needed. The fact that it was below the window in a main room like the dining room, and since you also said it was on its own breaker, it was a dead giveaway.
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