[edkern]

I know how AC works, but am new to residential wiring and such. The main thing I'm worried about is how I'm going to run the wire from the main panel to the new location. I want to do it right. Any tips, advice, or warnings would be appreciated.

This video shows what I would like to do and what I have to work with. It is about 4 minutes long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76_OFCzyz60

Thanks guys.

 

[clydesdale]

I noticed you mentioned in the video that you said you were renting the house. You should check with the landlord and the town when you pull the permit as well to see if you are even allowed to do the work yourself. Many areas require licensed electricians to do work on rentals.

 

[edkern]

The landlord is actually my roommate, and I checked to make sure I could do the work myself, that much is kosher.

 

[RST]

I watched the video and it looks like what you are planning is OK. But I am not an electrician so maybe I missed something. Installing a 240 outlet is not very different from a 120, except the connections at the panel are slightly different.

If the house has multiwire branch circuits, moving breakers around in the panel could be more tricky.

Consider upsizing the wire and breaker in case you or someone else want to plug something bigger into the 240 outlet in the future.

RST

 

[Saturday Cowboy]

keep ur wires out of the vent. cant change the two top right breakers- they are special breakers and cost too much to change. You have the right parts. But u will have to combine some other circuits. U need a jbox- an "old work" single gang plastic box. in the garage cut in the dry wall -not above the vent - a hole the size of the old work box. this will allow you to with a long drill bit drill down in to the basement. pull wire -drill ur own holes in joists dont use preexisting ones- install jbox and make up connections.

a photo of the inside of ur panel-safety first- will help us to advise u as to which circuits to combine.

you will be useing the white wire as a hot wire -it is required that it be marked, some black electrical tape will work and keep the next guy from guessing what you did

 

[edkern]

So here is a pic inside the main panel. If needed I installing a sub panel is an option, but its is something I would like to avoid if possible.

 

[Saturday Cowboy]

you have no choice but to use a quad. say a 30/20 quad in the lower left corner. a quad is the size of a 2 pole breaker but allows 2-240v circuits or 4 wires to be connected. inquire at a supply house

 

[edkern]

Sound advise cowboy.

I didn't know such a breaker existed. I just ordered a 15, 15, 2x20 quad. I'll connect the wire for the 15 amp breaker (currently the bottom left, with only one wire) to the top of the quad, and the dual 20 can go the the compressor. then nothing needs to get moved.

Now that the breaker situation is looking better, do my plans for drilling through the floor joist sound alright? I plan on drilling from the bottom, then feeding the wire up from the basement into the wall and fishing it out of the hole for the old work box.

I really appreciate the help.

 

[edkern]

Here is the breaker I purchased

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290555259407&hlp=false&rvr_id=228536883131&crlp=1_263602_304652&UA=%3F*F%3F&GUID=1e45002812e0a06437f37ce3ffd391d4&itemid=290555259407&ff4=263602_304652

 

[Saturday Cowboy]

never mind