Electrical outlet receptacle questions

10299 Views 27 Replies 8 Participants Last post by ScottR, Jun 15, 2009

Wolftrap

Discussion Starter · Jun 14, 2009

Hello I was hoping someone could help me with a few questions

#1 I recently purchased an air conditioner that says it is 230 volt. The problem is the plug on the ac is a 3 prong plug but the two top prongs are paralellel to the floor and not horizontal like normal plugs. I have gone to home depot and lowes and looked everywhere online to find an outlet receptacle that looks like this but I can't find one. Does anyone know where to purchase one online? I'm only finding the huge ones like for a washing machine or something.

#2 My landlord replaced my receptacle in my apartment that was 230 volt with a 125 volt recptacle. Everything I have plugged into this has blown out. Did he create a fire hazard? Whats going on? Can you only repace a 230 with like a 220 and he went down too far in voltage?

Thank you

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

Scuba_Dave

· #2 · Jun 14, 2009

Does it look like this?
Sounds like the landlord just connected the black & white to sides of the 120v outlet & did not change the white to neutral bar at the breaker panel. You probably still have 240v - very unsafe

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wirenut1110

· #3 · Jun 14, 2009

That sounds like a 6-15R. It's a 15 amp 250 volt receptacle.
And yeah, your LL is a DA. He needs to change the receptacle to match the voltage or change the voltage to match the receptacle.

Yes what Dave has there is a 6-20R which will work

Wolftrap

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 14, 2009

Scuba_Dave said:
Does it look like this?
Sounds like the landlord just connected the black & white to sides of the 120v outlet & did not change the white to neutral bar at the breaker panel. You probably still have 240v - very unsafe

My original outlet did look like that and he replaced it with a regular 3 prong 125 volt outlet and it blew out my orginal air conditioner and anything else I plugged into it. Now I have a new air conditioner but the plug is all wrong. I need to find the right 230 volt receptacle for this new plug and can't find it anywhere

Wolftrap

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 14, 2009

wirenut1110 said:
That sounds like a 6-15R. It's a 15 amp 250 volt receptacle.
And yeah, your LL is a DA. He needs to change the receptacle to match the voltage or change the voltage to match the receptacle.

Yes what Dave has there is a 6-20R which will work

250 volt? But the air conditioner itself only says it 230 volt. 250 volt is way too big. I looked at one in home depot today and those are for like dryers or something like that

wirenut1110

· #6 · Jun 14, 2009

250 volt is just it's voltage rating. The receptacle doesn't produce voltage. Your service is most likely 120/240 nominal. You can call it 110, 120, 220, 230, 240. You say sofa, I say couch.

Scuba_Dave

· #7 · Jun 14, 2009

Its just a rating
You can call it 220 230, 240 250 etc (doh jinx)
You have 120v on each leg = 240v total
This can go up & down depending upon distance of wire & local electric
I've measured anywhere from 118v to 122v

I've never understood where the 115v & 230v comes from?
Or the 110v & 220v?
Why are different ratings used?

Wolftrap

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 14, 2009

wirenut1110 said:
250 volt is just it's voltage rating. The receptacle doesn't produce voltage. Your service is most likely 120/240 nominal. You can call it 110, 120, 220, 230, 240. You say sofa, I say couch.

Thank you so when searching for this receptacle online, should I be looking for a 250 volt receptacle? I can't even find a picture of this receptacle to match this plug anywhere let alone find the exact receptacle to purchase. I have never seen a plug like this before with the prongs parallel to the floor.

InPhase277

· #9 · Jun 14, 2009

Wolftrap said:
250 volt? But the air conditioner itself only says it 230 volt. 250 volt is way too big. I looked at one in home depot today and those are for like dryers or something like that

There are three ratings: 230 V, for the air conditioner. 250 V for the receptacle, and 240 V, the actual voltage in the house. They all mean the same thing. A picture of your plug would be great. Or at least the amp rating of your A/C.

Speedy Petey

· #10 · Jun 14, 2009

Scuba_Dave said:

THIS is the receptacle you need. It is a dual rated 15/20 amp receptacle and is standard.

Yes, your landlord IS a dumb ass. He should NOT be touching anything electrical in this or any other house if he really did do what we suspect.
Tell him you want reimbursement for everything that blew out. It IS directly HIS fault.

Tell him to get an electrician in there to put the old 240v receptacle back in!

PS - Since this is a rental you as well should NOT be touching anything electrical. :no:
DO NOT attempt to replace this receptacle yourself.

Wolftrap

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 14, 2009

Speedy Petey said:
THIS is the receptacle you need. It is a dual rated 15/20 amp receptacle and is standard.

Yes, your landlord IS a dumb ass. He should NOT be touching anything electrical in this or any other house if he really did do what we suspect.
Tell him you want reimbursement for everything that blew out. It IS directly HIS fault.

Tell him to get an electrician in there to put the old 240v receptacle back in!

PS - Since this is a rental you as well should NOT be touching anything electrical. :no:
DO NOT attempt to replace this receptacle yourself.

yeah he is not reimbursing anything so I'm out of luck with that one. I can't use this receptacle pictured because the new ac I have is not that type of plug. Here is a picture of the new ac plug and I can't find a receptacle to match it.

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wirenut1110

· #12 · Jun 14, 2009

Wolftrap said:
yeah he is not reimbursing anything so I'm out of luck with that one.

F that, you have many ways of recourse on that.

Wolftrap

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jun 14, 2009

InPhase277 said:
There are three ratings: 230 V, for the air conditioner. 250 V for the receptacle, and 240 V, the actual voltage in the house. They all mean the same thing. A picture of your plug would be great. Or at least the amp rating of your A/C.

The amp says 7.7/8.5

Scuba_Dave

· #14 · Jun 14, 2009

We can't see that picture attachment (at least I can't)

Speedy Petey

· #15 · Jun 14, 2009

Wolftrap said:
yeah he is not reimbursing anything so I'm out of luck with that one. I can't use this receptacle pictured because the new ac I have is not that type of plug. Here is a picture of the new ac plug and I can't find a receptacle to match it.

You say the two flat prongs are parallel and in line? That is a 15 amp 240v plug and THAT is the correct receptacle.

Speedy Petey

· #16 · Jun 14, 2009

wirenut1110 said:
F that, you have many ways of recourse on that.

I AGREE! He f-ed up BIG time and should pay for it!

Speedy Petey

· #17 · Jun 14, 2009

Do the prongs look like this?

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Wolftrap

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jun 14, 2009

Scuba_Dave said:
We can't see that picture attachment (at least I can't)

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Speedy Petey

· #19 · Jun 14, 2009

Well there you go. :thumbsup:

That is a 15A-250v plug.

J. V.

· #20 · Jun 14, 2009

Wolftrap said:

That plug will fit the diagram/pic that Dave posted. They have them at HD and Lowes. Get a good one.

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