Is it 120V or 240V?

scooter67

A couple of years ago I removed a baseboard heater from my basement. Now I am making a workshop in my basement for my hobbies and need a couple of outlets. The electrical line is still there from the heater. First, how do I determine if it is a 120V or a 240V line? Then if it is a 120V line, how many outlets can I run from that line?

McSteve

Check where it's attached to the breaker. A 240v circuit will have both wires connected to a double pole breaker. A 120v circuit will have the black hot wire attached to a breaker, and the white neutral attached to the neutral bar.

You can put as many outlets as you want on a circuit, unless you're in Canada, in which case you're limited to 12.

If it is a 240v circuit, you can simply replace the breaker with a single pole, and move the white wire to the neutral bar to make it a 120v circuit. If the wire is 14-gauge, use a 15A breaker. If 12 gauge, you can use a 20A.

scooter67

How do I know if it is 12 gauge or 14 gauge? Now i have to go and trace the wire to see what breaker it is hooked to.

sirsparksalot

If the walls are open, and you can see the cables coming into the panel, look at where the cable (if it is Romex) comes in. The cable should have the guage (such as 14/2 or 12/2) stamped on the sheath of the cable.

If that's not possible, then replace the single pole with the same amperage as was the double pole.

rjniles

Not a good idea, the existing breaker may be wrong for the wire size. Get a wire stripper with wire gauge markings and measure it.

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scooter67

I had my wife flip breakers while I held a circuit tester on it. The cable has a three wire Hot, Neutral, and Ground. The breaker is a double pole breaker. I can just replace the breaker with a single breaker correct? Then I should be at the 120V I need, right?

Jim Port

You still need to move the white from the double pole breaker to the neutral buss. You also need to install a breaker blank to close off the unused opening.

BTW, with 240 you do not have a neutral. You would have two hots and a grounding conductor.

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Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.

darren

You could also take the white off the 2 pole breaker and put it to the neutral bar. Leave the black on the 2 pole breaker and use that breaker if it is the right amperage.

I don't beleive this violates any codes but if I am wrong someone will correct me.

scooter67

The one thing I did not check was to see if the other white was actually a hot line. I was thinking it was either a neutral or ground but thinking about it, neutral is technically a ground. I am good with small simple circuits not house wiring. I am not sure I can do this myself now. My need to call a professional. So much for saving money on something that is probably simple.

secutanudu

Did your circuit tester read 240v from black to white? If so, both lines (black & white) are hot.

What amperage is the double-pole breaker that controls this circuit?


What you're trying to do is pretty simple, and as long as you are comfortable working inside your panel, you can do this yourself. If you are not, then call an electrician.

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Andrew

McSteve

If it is indeed a 240v circuit, then no, the white is not a neutral. Black and white in the cable are both being used as hots, with 240v between them. In the breaker panel, you should see that black and white are both connected to the double pole breaker. This is what everyone is talking about; the white wire simply needs to be moved to the neutral terminal bar in the breaker panel. This will make it a 120v circuit.