Repurpose range wiring
#1
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Repurpose range wiring
Hi All,
First post here.
I'm in a new to me home and I've recently removed a wall oven - it was there in addition to our main range.
The wall oven was wired directly to a breaker with a wire loom containing Red, Black, White, and Ground. We will be replacing it with a wine/beverage fridge and I'd like to repurpose this wiring to an outlet for this.
So I guess the question is - what are my options? Can I simply/safely wire an outlet to this wire loom? If so what do I do with the red wire?
I'm usually decent at figuring this stuff out but it's been incredibly hard to google this specific thing!
First post here.
I'm in a new to me home and I've recently removed a wall oven - it was there in addition to our main range.
The wall oven was wired directly to a breaker with a wire loom containing Red, Black, White, and Ground. We will be replacing it with a wine/beverage fridge and I'd like to repurpose this wiring to an outlet for this.
So I guess the question is - what are my options? Can I simply/safely wire an outlet to this wire loom? If so what do I do with the red wire?
I'm usually decent at figuring this stuff out but it's been incredibly hard to google this specific thing!
Top Answer
04-28-22, 08:34 PM
Welcome to the forums.
So we need to know what size breaker is currently in place.
I'm a little confused. I'm seeing a bare copper ground wire. (not usually seen in MC cable)
That's telling me that that whip is spliced to a nearby junction box.
So we need to know what size breaker is currently in place.
I'm a little confused. I'm seeing a bare copper ground wire. (not usually seen in MC cable)
That's telling me that that whip is spliced to a nearby junction box.
#2
Member
First item to consider is the circuit breaker. For a wall oven it is probably a 20 amp 2 pole breaker. It will have to be replaced with a 20 amp, single pole breaker. (You can add two such breakers for separate circuits in the same space as the existing 2 pole breaker but the existing cable can only be used for one circuit. One breaker can be spare for now. There is a configuration called a multi-wire branch circuit that uses a 2-pole breaker and a shared neutral wire. That might apply here if you wanted to add a separate outlet, say for a coffee maker or microwave at the same location.) If the existing 2 pole breaker is the type that just has the handles tied together, you may be able to remove the tie and use them for separate circuits. The red wire should be capped and not connected in the panel.
Second item is the wire size. If a 20 amp breaker then the wires should be #12 and can be used for a new 20 amp receptacle.
Third item: You will have to install a box on the end of the cable. Boxes are available for use with that type of armored cable, get the correct one. The red wire should be capped and left unconnected in the box.
If the breaker is larger than 20 (it might be a 30A) then the wires might be #10 (but they don't look that large). You can still downsize the circuit to 20A but the new connections at the breaker and at the outlet will be more difficult due to the larger wire size.
If for some reason the existing circuit is 15A-2P and the wires are #14 then that will limit the circuit size to 15A. Check the refrigerator instructions for recommended circuit size. If the existing breaker is 15A but the wires are #12 then you can upgrade to 20A.
Second item is the wire size. If a 20 amp breaker then the wires should be #12 and can be used for a new 20 amp receptacle.
Third item: You will have to install a box on the end of the cable. Boxes are available for use with that type of armored cable, get the correct one. The red wire should be capped and left unconnected in the box.
If the breaker is larger than 20 (it might be a 30A) then the wires might be #10 (but they don't look that large). You can still downsize the circuit to 20A but the new connections at the breaker and at the outlet will be more difficult due to the larger wire size.
If for some reason the existing circuit is 15A-2P and the wires are #14 then that will limit the circuit size to 15A. Check the refrigerator instructions for recommended circuit size. If the existing breaker is 15A but the wires are #12 then you can upgrade to 20A.
#3
Member
First if it is a 20 amp two pole breaker you must NOT replace it with two singles. The red and black share the neutral must be on a double breaker.
Second it would be surprising to me if it was a 20 amp. An oven is more likely 30 amp. You can't put a duplex receptacle on anything over 20 amps so the breaker would need to be changed.
If the breaker is 20 amp then you can install a receptacle one the black and white and cap the red.
Second it would be surprising to me if it was a 20 amp. An oven is more likely 30 amp. You can't put a duplex receptacle on anything over 20 amps so the breaker would need to be changed.
If the breaker is 20 amp then you can install a receptacle one the black and white and cap the red.
#4
Welcome to the forums.
So we need to know what size breaker is currently in place.
I'm a little confused. I'm seeing a bare copper ground wire. (not usually seen in MC cable)
That's telling me that that whip is spliced to a nearby junction box.
So we need to know what size breaker is currently in place.
I'm a little confused. I'm seeing a bare copper ground wire. (not usually seen in MC cable)
That's telling me that that whip is spliced to a nearby junction box.
joed,
Tolyn Ironhand
voted this post useful.
#5
Member
I'm a little confused. I'm seeing a bare copper ground wire. (not usually seen in MC cable)
CasualJoe
voted this post useful.
#8
I'm seeing a bare copper ground wire. (not usually seen in MC cable)
#9
I agree, that is not MC cable. That is 1/2" Flexible Metal Conduit (FMC)
Just by looking at the insulation on the wire, I can tell that is 105C insulation. It is also likely #12 based on my experience wiring wall ovens. There is writing on the black wire.
I would say that it is like OK to use it but if I was doing it I would pull out that wire and install some THHN unless all three wires have writing on them identifying the type of wire.
Just by looking at the insulation on the wire, I can tell that is 105C insulation. It is also likely #12 based on my experience wiring wall ovens. There is writing on the black wire.
I would say that it is like OK to use it but if I was doing it I would pull out that wire and install some THHN unless all three wires have writing on them identifying the type of wire.
#10
I suspect there is a buried splice where the flexible appliance whip connects to the building wiring.
CircuitBreaker
voted this post useful.