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What is Code/Best Practices for Running a 240V cable to other Side of Room?

2352 Views 16 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  frenchelectrican
I need to move a 240V junction box from one side of the room (it used to feed a heater circuit) to the other. I presume this means I'll have to fish wire from the wallbox on the North wall up and over in the attic to the new box on the South wall.

What is code/best practice for this? Can I use heavy duty romex or do I have to enclose the wire in a tube of some kind? Any other tips?
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What do you mean by "heavy duty" romex? Never heard that term before.

Just use the same cable as the circuit and an appropriately sized junction box. If the existing box is big enough just bring the new wire into that and splice there.
Speedy Petey---have the codes remained the same over the years? Does the new circuit need four wires? two power one neutral and a ground?
It would depend on the load. Many 240V loads do not require a neutral. You are thinking of sub panel codes.

For sub panels, the codes have "recently" changed regarding detached structures, but the 4th wire (EGC) for subs in the same structure have remained the same for as long as I can remember.
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Mike, if the code has changed like for stoves and dryers, if the circuit needs to be changed it needs to be brought up to todays code.
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It would depend on the load. Many 240V loads do not require a neutral. You are thinking of sub panel codes.

For sub panels, the codes have "recently" changed regarding detached structures, but the 4th wire (EGC) for subs in the same structure have remained the same for as long as I can remember.

Please elaborate on change as I am setting up a sub-panel later this week and have the 4 wires already.

Thanks
Speedy Petey---have the codes remained the same over the years? Does the new circuit need four wires? two power one neutral and a ground?
Like the others have said, it depends on the circuit and the load. The whole "the code has changed for '220' " thing is a complete mis-nomer.

The only thing that has changed is that circuits for detached structure feeders and for household cooking appliances and electric dryers are not allowed to use the neutral to also serve as the grounding means. This is ONLY for 120/240v circuits. A straight 240v circuit would not apply since it does not utilize a neutral conductor.
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No, this is for me. In my utility room I'm wanting to move the dryer from one wall to the other.

The realtor can take his own risks - but not with my skin or liability.
No, this is for me. In my utility room I'm wanting to move the dryer from one wall to the other.
Then why not say this from the start, as opposed to vaguely saying you "need to move a 240V junction box" and asking if you should use "heavy duty romex"? This little detail would have eliminated confusion and cleared things up.
Then why not say this from the start, as opposed to vaguely saying you "need to move a 240V junction box" and asking if you should use "heavy duty romex"? This little detail would have eliminated confusion and cleared things up.

Well, I'm not moving the junction box for the dryer. I'm using a separate 20A 240 circuit that I'm pulling from a thermostat/spst junction box that used to feed a large baseboard heater in the same room. That way I'll still have 240V on the original wall, plus 240V on a new circuit on the garage wall. I'm thinking that may come in handy sometime as I am looking at buying a big air compressor and two 240V outlets on separate circuits will be just what I need.
Running an electric dryer on a 20A circuit? :no:
So you are NOT moving your dryer from one wall to the other like you said in post #10???
I'm confused.
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Me too
Run a new 30amp circuit from the panel. You can use the breaker position that fed that ex-baseboard heater.
You have no idea what condition of the existing wire even if it was 20 amps on a number 10. How old is it ? 50 years, + or - ?
Sound little confusing what is going on but I will fill them in much as possible due I can able figure it out something.


No, this is for me. In my utility room I'm wanting to move the dryer from one wall to the other.

The realtor can take his own risks - but not with my skin or liability.
Moving the dryer from one wall to the other location will be more than just simple task due you will have to fish in new conductors from the exsting junction box to the new dryer location however the key issue is the exsting conductors if you have full 4 conductor then it is not a issue but with 3 conductors ( including ground ) then you will have to fish in the whole thing from load centre.

Second thing if you move to new location are you willing punch a new hole in the wall for dryer vent and is that new location is straight shot to vent it outside.

Just make a note the least numbers of bends it easier to vent the dryer quicker.



Well, I'm not moving the junction box for the dryer. I'm using a separate 20A 240 circuit that I'm pulling from a thermostat/spst junction box that used to feed a large baseboard heater in the same room. That way I'll still have 240V on the original wall, plus 240V on a new circuit on the garage wall. I'm thinking that may come in handy sometime as I am looking at buying a big air compressor and two 240V outlets on separate circuits will be just what I need.
Is that baseboard heater still functioning ? if so what other circuit is used with that baseboard heater and don't be suprise if you run into second baseboard heater which it can share with this one. that is kinda pretty common with med size and smaller baseboard heaters but large one llike 8 footers and longer useally are on it own circuit.

The way I read the wording that you have attached garage it better off just run a new circuit if you have any 240 volts load or run the subpanel then you can branch it off from there.

Merci,
Marc
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