220v, 30a Outlet Question.
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220v, 30a Outlet Question.
First post.
I have an A/C that blew. Well, used to anyways. The current outlet has one vertical prong, one horizontal prong and the bottom round prong. Other 220v a/c's have 2 vertical prongs and the bottom round prong plugs. Whats' the difference and can I just swap out outlets to make this work?
I have an A/C that blew. Well, used to anyways. The current outlet has one vertical prong, one horizontal prong and the bottom round prong. Other 220v a/c's have 2 vertical prongs and the bottom round prong plugs. Whats' the difference and can I just swap out outlets to make this work?
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#2
You have a NEMA 6-20amp plug it sounds like. It sounds like those others are just normal household 120 receptacles.
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It's an old Montgomery Ward unit that is in the wall. I cant see a plate. But it does have the nema 6-20 plug. I want to get a more modern AC that fits into the wall, but the outlet is confusing me at what I can do. The circuit breaker has a double switch that says 30 amp on it.
#7
The breaker is oversized for the plug, probably to make it so it doesn't keep tripping the circuit. Can you tell what sized wire it is? It is a 220v if you have a double pole breaker to it.
http://www.frentzandsons.com/Hardwar...o.htm#30%20Amp.
http://www.frentzandsons.com/Hardwar...o.htm#30%20Amp.
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Edit - according to diagrams, I have a Nema 5-20 plug, not a 6-20p.
#9
There is no energy efficiency differences between a 110 and 220. your energy is measured in watts.
#10
The 5-20 is a 20 amp 120 volt device. You sould have a single pole 20 smp breaker protecting this receptacle. Someone may have changed the receptacle to match the A/C but incorrectly left the breaker in place.
How many wires are connected to the breaker?
How many wires are connected to the breaker?
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I'll check tommorow when it's light out and turn off the power and unscrew the curcuit box off the wall. Heat index will be 105 Friday so I have to figure this out soon.
#12
The important thing is the BTUs. You want to get greater or equal. New ACs or usually smaller so I would just look for one that will fit in the existing hole and plan to fill in around it if needed. While it is important to determine the current voltage, if it is a dedicated circuit it doesn't matter if the new one is 120v or 240v. The existing receptacle's voltage can easily be changed by swapping a couple of wires at the panel.
Last edited by ray2047; 07-21-10 at 09:38 PM.
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The important thing is the BTUs. You want to get grater equal. New ACs or usually smaller so I would just look for one that will fit in the existing hole and plan to fill in around it if needed. While it is important to determine the current voltage, if it is a dedicated circuit it doesn't matter if the new one is 120v or 240v. The existing receptacle's voltage can easily be changed by swapping a couple of wires at the panel.
I will add to Ray's part here he have clear point there and also if this A/C plug is delcated which it mean nothing else in that circuit is used with anything else if anything else on it may cause some issue espcally if you have new 240 volt unit and larger 120 volt units as well
Most manufacter will stated that you run it own circuit to advoid any issue with it.
Merci.
Marc
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