household voltage conversion f/ lights 240v- several 120v outlets

michaelnotar · #1 01-05-2009, 02:15 AM

hi

is it relatively easy to convert a 240v connection like one for a dryer or kitchen range into several 120v outlets? i would assume it just takes spliting each of the two hot wires to the hot side of each outlet and making a Y connection for the ground and neutral wires of the outlets back to the original connections?

i would like to get all the power out of the 240v circuit, i think it can carry 30-60 amps.

my question is for US voltage and i am not asking about 240v/120v adapters for international travel.

thanks. and i will not try this, i would have an licensed electrician do it.

Jerry Skrocki · #2 01-05-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelnotar

hi

is it relatively easy to convert a 240v connection like one for a dryer or kitchen range into several 120v outlets? i would assume it just takes spliting each of the two hot wires to the hot side of each outlet and making a Y connection for the ground and neutral wires of the outlets back to the original connections?

i would like to get all the power out of the 240v circuit, i think it can carry 30-60 amps.

my question is for US voltage and i am not asking about 240v/120v adapters for international travel.

thanks. and i will not try this, i would have an licensed electrician do it.

Your assumption is incorrect. Leave the wiring to a licensed electrician.

DougAxford · #3 01-05-2009, 11:10 AM

I'm not licenced but I know my power. A 240v outlet would have to be remade to a pair of 120v outlets and the breakers would be changed to single pole. Pretty easy & cheap if you know your stuff. The biggest problem is that you can't leave the breakers as they are.

If you are wanting to do this on a temporary basis and try to use a splitter off the stove plug, you would put a small breaker/switch panel spliced into the extension. In other words, you've put 120v/15amp breakers in the line after the stove outlet instead of at the main box. This may illegal, depending upon your local code. If it's done by a licenced electrician, I'd guess it would be under a hundred dollars and they wouldn't even need to have a house call.

ChrisPurves · #4 01-21-2009, 06:15 PM

Hi Doug:- your right. A stove outlet is 40 amps and is four prongs.
The two hot prongs are 240v from one to the other. The neutral prong is 120v from it to one hot and 120v to the other prong.
The fourth prong is the ground.
If you want to do it you could easily feed a 6 or 8 circuit panel from a stove cord to the panel and feed 3 or 4 120v breakers from each side of the panel. It is not legal but it will work safely. It's not legal because you will be feeding a panel that is designed for permanent installation. The whole thing will total around $ 200.00. Panel about $ 60.00 breakers about $ 12.00 each Stove cord about $ 10.00
You can feed one plug from each breaker easily so you could get 8 - 15 amp plugs off the system. Remember that the breaker that feeds the panel is only going to allow 40 amps total.

There are legal ways. Hubbel and Bryant and others make portable power centres will plug into the stove plug and have breakers and various configurations of 120 and 240v plugs. They are EXPENSIVE. They start at about $ 300.00 and go up from there.
So be warned you can do as you are describing but you are going around the system and potentially opening a can of worms.

Cheers
Chris

DougAxford · #5 01-21-2009, 08:06 PM

I was more using the word 'illegal' in the context that in some jurisdictions only a licenced electrician is legally allowed to do this kind of wiring. In my own area, I can do it in my own home, but it's illegal for me to do it in someone else's home. Each area will be different.

You're right, making a simple box with a breaker and shut-off would be inexpensive.

DougA