Yet another house re-wiring questions!

[cab83_750]

I am currently installing 10 recessed lighting in my living room: 8 small ones (50W) and 2 big ones (60W).

Somewhat related is my kitchen: It used to have a 220V plug for the electric range. The range is now gone and replaced with a gas-unit so the 220V plug is no longer needed.

Question:

My panel is already full. Instead of installing a subpanel, can I use the 220V circuit? Of course I somewhat understand that this is actually 2 110-lines. Would this be ok to use by splitting the 220V?

Thanks.

[slodave]

Just attach them after the wall switch that now controls the whole house fan... Tee hee.

[Carrman]

She's gonna blow!

[cab83_750]

Funny!



So seriously, can this be done? I have always been accused of 'overdoing' things; in other words, I do not have any problems installing a subpanel. However, I am a strong believer of "no redundancy"......... why not use a 'dead' line????

[cab83_750]

Aaaah! The beauty of Google!

It looks like this could be done. I just need to replace the 'fuse' at the panel with the correct amperage.

[dad911]

I would not. You can remove the 2 pole range breaker from the panel, and gain 2 more 110v circuits.

[cab83_750]

Originally Posted by dad911

I would not. You can remove the 2 pole range breaker from the panel, and gain 2 more 110v circuits.

Dad,

I am a computer geek, not an electrician. What you typed-in is what I read and meant to do. I appreciate your input.

Funny thing is that my living room has no load at all about 360 in a year. It does not even get used. I just want to not tap into the existing circuit --- just in case 5 days in the year I need to use the living room.

[p911dad]

Cab83, I have owned a few houses, etc., and have done some electrical work in past. I would not remove the 220 outlet from the range location, as the next owner may have an electric range(more common than gas for sure). Also, I strongly advise you adhere to the local or state electrical code, which insures your and your family's safety. If you need a new box you need a new box! Hire an electrician to install the box. The voltage from the street has the potential for well over 220v 200 amps. Don't forget that.

[onewhippedpuppy]

You're installing new lights in the living room, what are you replacing? If you're replacing lights with a few more new ones, you might be able to make use of the existing circuit. I would start by finding out exactly what is on that circuit, and see if you have room to expand on it.

If I'm remembering this right, you have about 1650 W to play with (110V * 15A). You want to add 8 * 40W and 2 * 60W = 520W. Add up what you have on the circuit now, subtract the lights you will be removing/replacing, and see if you can add on.

Otherwise, I'd yank the double pull breaker for the 220V range and use the hole for a new 15A lighting circuit. Leave the wires, that way you could always use the range at a later time.

[Bill Verburg]

the difference between a 110v circuit and 220v circuit is determined by the way the brakers in the main box attach to the main busses.

coming into the house are 3 main wires that terminate in the 3 main bussses in the main braker box, 1 is ground and the other 2 are 110-120v wrt the ground but 220v wrt to each other because the AC current is out of phase.

a 110-120v circuit is formed when a breaker bridges a hot buss and ground. A 220v circuit is formed when the breaker bridges the 2 hot busses. The breakers do this automaticly when the are installed.

the wire doesn't care about voltage it only cares about amperage.

So the unused range wire will have plenty of amperage capacity for your lights and can be made into a 110v circuit by just replacing the 220v circuit breaker w/ a 110v breaker and moving the white wire that was connected to a hot on the 220v breaker to the ground buss.