Stackable washer dryer power question

muphtrician

I have a washer/dryer unit that uses a single NEMA 10-30R cord:
After upgrading the outlet (30a) I used a multimeter to test the power, it was only ~130-150, it is connected correctly. I checked the breaker, it only has 2x 20a breaker for this outlet, and the wire is only 12g ..

My main question is this.. The washer works (I assume it only uses 120v 15a?).. But the dryer won't even turn on. Is it safe to use the washer and NOT the dryer until I rewire the house or move somewhere else with accommodating outlet? Or does this raise safety concerns? What is the worst that would happen, tripped breaker? Or fire? Thanks for you help.

Also, if someone knows.. Is there an easier way to get my dryer working than rewiring the whole house? Alternate energy outlet (solar)? Power converter? Power inverter?.. Anything??

muphtrician

Nobody?

bobelectric

No takers. You are off to a bad start using 12/2 to feed a 30 amp 240 volt receptacle.

muphtrician

So it may trip the breaker?

muphtrician

Seems to be working just fine.. Thanks for nothing I guess

jbfan

Did you do anything?
Did it just start working?

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Yes I am a Pirate, 200 years too late. "Jimmy Buffett"

sgip2000

130-150v is high for a single leg. Did you measure the voltage from the left and right slots or top to bottom? If wired correctly, it should still produce 240v, it will just max out at 20A.

Dave632

muph,

You seem to be under the impression that this forum is an on-call consult the electrician site. Your followup to your original post was only 23 minutes after the OP. Your, rather grumpy, last post was exactly an hour and a half after your OP.

Many of the forum readers are actual, working, electricians or other professionals. They respond to postings on their own time, if they have any. It's not unusual for a post to go hours or even days before someone who feels qualified to respond does so.

In other words... Patience, Grasshopper.

muphtrician

Thanks for your response.. The washer section works (I'm assuming it only uses 120v 15a) but the dryer section does not (Know for fact it's 240v 30a).. Just wanted to make sure the only risk of running the washer is tripping the circuit and not a fire hazard. They both operate off a single NEMA 10-30R cord so I wasn't sure..

The outlet only supports up 20a and reads at ~140-150 with a multimeter, I already know to get the dryer working I'd need to switch the breaker to 30a and rewire with 10g (unless someone knows another fix).

Just wanna make sure the washer portion won't catch my house on fire more or less.. I'll deal with the dryer later

You're right... Sorry, just have no clean clothes an the washer/dryer I just bought isn't going as planned. Just stressed sorry, I really do appreciate the help though!

Thanks, yes I did. The right side is the only side showing power, when I touch <right - ground> or <right - left> it shows ~140-150.. <left - ground> shows 0. Perhaps the breaker is faulty? Even so, without switching it to a 30a and upgrading the wire too I don't think it would help. In the wall there were 3 wires, Black/White/Copper (ground) I connected the copper (ground) to the L socket and the White/Black to the other 2.

jbfan

What kind of receptacle was there before you upgraded?
Take a picture of the breaker panel and breaker in question.
Is this a rental?

__________________
Yes I am a Pirate, 200 years too late. "Jimmy Buffett"

muphtrician

There was a standard home outlet 120v, yes it is a rental... So I'm not trying to do something I can't easily reverse when I move out. Here is the breaker in question:

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/tqn4k
(image wouldn't post, link will show it though)

It is the one second from the left on the bottom (9-10) 2x 20a switches.

There are 2 on top you can see that have no breaker but are wired with 10g wires and are 30a ready, I just have no idea what so ever where they lead to.

Thanks for your input.

jbfan

You need to disconnet your washer and call the landlord.
That is not a 2 pole breaker, but a tandem breaker.
You have a very unsafe setup now.
Doing electrical work in a rental is illegal in most areas.

__________________
Yes I am a Pirate, 200 years too late. "Jimmy Buffett"

sgip2000

I agree.

jbfan

Guess they did not like my answer!

__________________
Yes I am a Pirate, 200 years too late. "Jimmy Buffett"

muphtrician

Ok that's what I was trying to find out. Gonna disconnect it and put back the original outlet. Can you explain why this is unsafe? Thanks.

Also... Why am I calling the landlord now?