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Upright freezer and Dryer on the same breaker?

7K views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  chadmcclarnon 
#1 ·
I recently purchased a Kenmore Elite 13.7 cu ft Upright Freezer from Sears. Upon bringing it home and placing it where we had planned to use it (in the laundry room), I realized that cord isn't long enough to reach the only 110 outlet in the room.

There is another option though, and I need to know if it's viable. The circuit that the dryer runs on comes out of the wall into a junction box and then Runs in metal conduit along the baseboards to the big dryer plug. This junction box lives right next to the where we've placed the freezer.

So here's my question...could I install a 110 outlet in this junction box and run the freezer and the dryer on the same circuit? It's a 30 amp breaker and there's nothing else on it. Is this safer than running it on an industrial extension cord to the 110 plug that the washer is also on?

The extension cord is definitely what we want to avoid, because I've read that it could void my warranty but I'm not sure. Any opinions or comments on this from you electrical wizards would be much appreciated!
 
#3 ·
Julius793 said:
Your dryer is a 240 volt most Likely and there for under no circumstance be used! Run another line from the panel.
I guess that's the root of my question...is the voltage (240/220 vs 110) controlled by the breaker, the wiring, or the outlet? The wires in the junction box look no different than the ones in my light fixtures...just the solid copper wires.
 
#4 ·
About 99% of electric heated dryers are 120/240 volts so it requires both voltages. Since you said it had a big plug, that would sure seem to make it an electric dryer and not gas which only needs 120 volts for light, motor and ignition.

Your electric dryer needs a 30 amp branch circuit protected by a double pole 30 amp breaker.

Your freezer should be on a 120 volt 15 or 20 amp branch circuit.

Dryers almost always need separate or dedicated branch circuits so even though 120 volts is available it would not be code complaint to put the freezer on the branch circuit. And then you will have an equipment ground problem if the existing dryer branch circuit only has 3 wires and no equipment ground.
 
#5 ·
chadmcclarnon said:
I guess that's the root of my question...is the voltage (240/220 vs 110) controlled by the breaker, the wiring, or the outlet? The wires in the junction box look no different than the ones in my light fixtures...just the solid copper wires.
It's controlled by the configuration of the breakers in the panel. Being that it seems your not familiar with a panel I would suggest calling in an electrician to run a new 15/20a 120v line.
 
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