240v appliances with 120V outlets

7269 Views 21 Replies 9 Participants Last post by J. V., Jul 2, 2009

raevenbox

Discussion Starter · Jul 1, 2009

We will be moving to a new house within a week. We will be bringing our appliances along. However, the dryer and the stove have a large 3 prong plug (240V). The house does not have the outlets for us to use them.
I do not want to get rid of my stove and dryer, I would like to keep them and use them. We were looking at hiring an electricain, but found it will cost us a lot of money.
Is there an easy solution to this problem?
The house is wired for 120V appliances, not 240V.

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

220/221

· #2 · Jul 1, 2009

Is there an easy solution to this problem?

Buy new gas appliances. It will be less expensive or equal to running new circuits. Sell your old appliances to help offset the cost.

(I am asuming there is gas stubs at the appliance locations)

Each electric appliance requires it's own 240V circuit @ about $300 each.

raevenbox

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 1, 2009

The current stove is electric. The dryer is gas.
Guess I would have to sell them

J. V.

· #4 · Jul 1, 2009

raevenbox said:
The current stove is electric. The dryer is gas.
Guess I would have to sell them

It depends on how much you can do electrically. Have you ever performed any electrical installations? Fishing cables, installing receptacles or switches? If the answer is yes, then you can do this and we can help you.

How much did the electrician say it would cost? You say it is was expensive? You have to look at materials (cheap) and labor (not cheap) but free if you do this yourself. You also have to look at your capabilities. If you are up for the job let us know. You can have your appliances ready to be plugged in before you move in. :thumbsup:

raevenbox

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 1, 2009

We have no experience with electrical. Just found out that stove is gas as well.

Guess I have to switch to gas.
Thanks for all your input.

thegonagle

· #6 · Jul 1, 2009

Take a picture of your panel (with the cover off, if possible) so we can see what we're working with here.

You need two free slots for each 240 volt circuit. If it's already full, this could be beyond a DIY fix for the original poster.

If you have 2 free slots (or can free them up moving other circuits to tandems), then hook up your stove, but sell the electric dryer and get a gas one. (Gas dryers are much faster, and are less expensive to run.)

Scuba_Dave

· #7 · Jul 1, 2009

I'd stick with the exisiting gas appliances in the house if new(er)
Is it gas heat too ?

Are your existing electric appliances new ?
DIY connection for electric would run under $100 for both

raevenbox

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 1, 2009

Okay, we took a look at the panel. It does have 2 larger free spaces that we could use. We ran into another problem.........
The panle is in a different room than the laundry room and the panel is no where near the kitchen and one room away from the laundry room.

Again, we don't have any experience in electrical. But the cost sounds great! It has already been a headache trying to find new/used appliances that would fit and sell the ones we have.

I think the heat is gas. The appliances in their already are MUCh older. The dryer doesn't work and the stove is older than ours. Our appliances are under 4 years old and are in great condition.

jbberns

· #9 · Jul 1, 2009

I would say it would be cheaper to change out to electric appliances. Cost more than a $100 but cheaper than new appliances

raevenbox

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 1, 2009

cheaper to do what?

kbsparky

· #11 · Jul 1, 2009

You can configure an electric dryer to operate on a 120 Volt source.

Be advised that it will take 3-4 times longer to dry a wet load of clothes, when so connected.

If you connected an electric range in a similar manner, it might also work, albeit quite marginally.

The heating elements would only produce ¼ their rated wattage, and cooking would be quite a task with limited heat output. :huh:

Best to stick with gas appliances in your situation for the time being.

220/221

· #12 · Jul 1, 2009

the dryer and the stove have a large 3 prong plug (240V).

The current stove is electric. The dryer is gas.

I am a bit confused. The existing stove is electric but doesn't have a receptacle?

In that case, the modification is pretty simple. Install a jbox, a receptacle and plug in your stove. Parts $30, labor 1 hour (or a half day if you do it).

If the existing dryer is gas, just use it. A new dryer circuit will be $300 minimum.

Gigs

· #13 · Jul 1, 2009

A gas stove is a lot nicer than an electric stove in a lot of people's opinion. Consider it a free upgrade.

220/221

· #14 · Jul 1, 2009

A gas stove is a lot nicer than an electric stove in a lot of people's opinion. Consider it a free upgrade.

The current stove is electric

See? I'm not the only one confused.:jester:

jbberns

· #15 · Jul 1, 2009

kbsparky said:
You can configure an electric dryer to operate on a 120 Volt source.

Be advised that it will take 3-4 times longer to dry a wet load of clothes, when so connected.

If you connected an electric range in a similar manner, it might also work, albeit quite marginally.

The heating elements would only produce ¼ their rated wattage, and cooking would be quite a task with limited heat output. :huh:

Best to stick with gas appliances in your situation for the time being.

Don't go with this idea!

jbberns

· #16 · Jul 2, 2009

Why don't you just get some quotes for adding the electric. It doesn't sound like you are going to do it yourself, anyway

kbsparky

· #17 · Jul 2, 2009

kbsparky said:
...Best to stick with gas appliances in your situation for the time being.

jbberns said:
Don't go with this idea!

And you have a problem with sticking with gas appliances ... why?

jbberns

· #18 · Jul 2, 2009

He said he has pretty new electric appliances. Only reason

jbberns

· #19 · Jul 2, 2009

kbsparky said:
You can configure an electric dryer to operate on a 120 Volt source.

Be advised that it will take 3-4 times longer to dry a wet load of clothes, when so connected.

If you connected an electric range in a similar manner, it might also work, albeit quite marginally.

The heating elements would only produce ¼ their rated wattage, and cooking would be quite a task with limited heat output. :huh:

This idea.

AllanJ

· #20 · Jul 2, 2009 (Edited)

Reconfiguring a 240 volt electric dryer to run on 120 volts also requires center tapping the heating element. (If you don't know what that means then this is not a DIY project for you.) Neutral goes to the middle and the two ends are tied together and connected to the hot line. The heat will then be the same as the original 240 volt power supply would yield.

Estimate the total amperes drawn at 120 volts to be twice that at 240 volts. (The heating element uses the majority of the energy.) Should this be more than 20 amps (20 amp circuit) then the project is not practical. You would need to string a new circuit for a 120 volt load greater than 20 amps (80% or 16 amps for something continuous or long running like an air conditioner) and if you need to do this you might as well string a 240 volt circuit.

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