We are located in Iowa.

Earlier this week my husband was using my hair dryer in the living room. Thats when the power to the hair dryer went out. The area affected was the dining room light, back deck light, two outlets in the living room. We checked the breaker box and the only breakers that didn't do anything was #6 & 8. My husband went and purchased new breakers which didn't fix the issue. While he was looking at the wires it says on the side wall 6&8 are 240V. (The list on our actual box is completely wrong and listed incorrectly.) They were not set up as a dual breaker. From my research that is against code. He tested the wire and it is a 240. Yesterday he put new outlets in. Tonight we turned off the power to the whole house and wrote a list of which breakers go to each area. Most of our house is on #3&4. Some only have 2-3 outlets on them. I'm not sure if that's an issue or not. He's about to go into the attic and check on the wires up there for any issues. If that fails what should our next step be? Besides getting a dual breaker for the 240V is that a problem if they truly do go to the 2 outlets and 2 lights? We didn't find that they go anywhere else.

I hope this makes sense! Thank you in advance!

 

Makes no since to me.
No way in the US are outlets and lights are 220 volts.
Sure sounds like he has no clue how to check electrical issues.
Time to call in a pro.

 

Are the wires to the 240 breaker black and white or red and black?

 

I am suspecting a MWBC, but cannot confirm whpith the information given.

 

The wires to the 240 are black & red. He has moderate knowledge of electrical, I on the other hand do not. He's working to figure it out while I ask the questions and do the research. ;-)

 

PCBoss wrote: Tombraider replied:Bingo! You have a mutiwire circuit. That means two 120 volt circuits with a shared neutral. You can use either two handle tied single pole breakers or one 240 volt breaker.

You need to start opening receptacles, lights, and switches on that circuit looking for the box where the 3-conductor cable (red, black, white) branches off to two 120 circuits. Start looking at the receptacle or light or switch nearest the panel.

 

Thank you so much Ray!! We will do that right now!

 

What's the recommended amps for the breaker? 15 or 20? We have both in our breaker box.

 

If it's #14 wire you use a 15A breaker. If it's #12 wire you use a 20A breaker.

If it's not feeding the kitchen then it will most likely be #14 wire and require a 15A breaker.