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How to Install a Dryer Outlet
I am moving my operation to a basement that has a full panel and doesn’t have any hook up for a clothes dryer machine in the basement. There’s on upstairs, but I’m going to be working in the basement. It’s a big house and has a lot of normal 110-120 receptacles. I know I need two 110-120 hot lines together to make a 220-240, 30 amp receptacle. Is there an easy way to pull from two receptacles on two different circuits to create a plug in for my still? It doesn’t have to be a code approved setup. I just want to be able to do this with the least amount of cost and complexity. I’m working in an unfinished area of a basement.3 x 60 inch Bokabob, 8 gallon boiler, 4500w3 inch pot still head, reduced to 2 inches, then to 48 inch 1/2 condenser. 8 gallon boiler, 4500w
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15 Replies
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If the panel is full, you can replace a couple of breakers with Tandem Breakers. Tandem breakers are basically two breakers that take up the space of a single breaker. That will open up a slot for a 240V 30A breaker and allow you to have a proper 240V circuit in the basement.4″ VM Build
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First and foremost, regardless of code compliance, you need to have respect for the risks you’re taking here. It’s not just a little shock, you could burn the place down and lose everything, life included. This is not the place to cut corners.You need to understand how North American house wiring works to safely do what you’re talking about. The power coming in is 220/240V, and the neutral is the center tap on that circuit. Thus you have 110 between either leg and neutral, or 220 across them. Most breaker boxes that I’ve seen (I know if I say all, someone will prove me wrong, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re all like this) have adjacent breakers alternating between the two hot legs, which is why the 220 breakers have to be double width.So in order to get 220 out of two 110 circuits, you’d need to make sure that you’re using two that are connected to different hot legs inside the box. You can’t just pick any two at random.You also have to remember that most household circuits are not wired with anything heavy enough to handle loads like a proper 220 circuit would be. For example, in my house the outlets are good for 15A, but the dryer circuit is good for 30A. Running too high a load is a serious fire risk.What I am NOT qualified to offer an opinion on is what happens if you’re running a load through two separate breakers, and what the safety implications would be.In short, I’m not saying that it is impossible to do what you’re talking about, but unless you know enough to not have to ask this question in the first place, you probably shouldn’t be trying it. I hope this gives you enough information to go do whatever research you need so that you can understand it for yourself and proceed with knowledge.Learn from the past, live in the present, change the future.
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Maybe unplug the upstairs drier when distilling and make a 30amp, 240v extension cord to run to the basement.
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Maybe unplug the upstairs drier when distilling and make a 30amp, 240v extension cord to run to the basement.That is what I did. Moved the laundry from basement to main floor so wife didn’t have to run up and down stairs.Use old dryer outlet in basement for my still and tag “Do Not Operate” on dryer up stairs when I’m distilling. Since both plugs are on same breakers.
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First. No you should never add an extra wire to an already being used breaker. The circuit the breakers control may already be maxed out. Second and most importantly check to see if this breaker box has a main power disconnect. It will look like a big breaker at the top or where the feed comes in.If you have this it will make it safer to do the work.But always double check after youv shut it down.”NEVER ASSUME THAT THE POWER IS OFF”.A picture of the panel in question would be a huge help.I drink so much now,on the back of my license it’s a list of organs I need.
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I’ll try to get a picture soon. Thinking it through, I don’t believe the concept I had in mind will work because the neutral will not be 10 gauge and I don’t know how to make sure the power going back is split evenly between the 15 amp breakers. The upstairs clothes dryer works on gas, so the plug in is never used. Maybe I can see where it runs, cut the wire, split it in a junction box and create an outlet downstairs.3 x 60 inch Bokabob, 8 gallon boiler, 4500w3 inch pot still head, reduced to 2 inches, then to 48 inch 1/2 condenser. 8 gallon boiler, 4500w
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Imo, best / cleanest way is to pick up a waffer/ tandem breaker if you don’t have enough room in your panel. If you have a spare spot on the bus bar then good for you.#10 wire for a 30 amp breaker.Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
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I found two independent 20 amp circuits in my distilling area and have each one running a separately controlled 2000 watt element.
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From working as a marine electrician I want to say go for it as it’s an easy install.But I have ran into to many people who thought they knew what they were doing. I would suggest buying the parts set it up from the outlet to the panel but don’t hook it to the panel. Pay an electrician his minimal fee to hook it to the panel. You’ll sleep better.
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I’d recommend a 60A 240V sub-panel with GFCI that you can disconnect power from the main breaker and wire up circuits as needed. They will power two 5k5w 240V elements plus other drops off the sub-panel.I have used a dryer outlet with a dryer plug wired to my controller for years. it’s a 240V 30A drop and drives a 5k5W element – that was my temporary option which became longer term and it’s worked very well. I’ve got some 240V 60A romex style cable so I can extend the dryer almost anywhere for a run as needed.Next shed I’ll spring for a GFCI sub panel off the main and hardwire two elements/controllers so I can maybe do lower power ULWD strip runs to prevent scorches – or make a dedicated 11kw steam generator and plumb that into the boiler and maybe a motor/agitator. Sub panel will allow me to hard-wire though in any case and probably add a master OFF switch for air-gap safety.Cheers,jonny————i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred————
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Where’s your breaker box located? Most being in a closet and you saying you had an outlet that wasn’t used,being the dryer is gas, you have to have room on your panel. I’d be more inclined remove a section of drywall below the breaker panel. Unhook the dryer from the panel and run a new drop down to the basement. Even an ugly drywall repair in an inconspicuous place is better than creating a fire hazard. Do it once, do it right, and never have to worry about it again.
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I agree Tammuz .Thats what I did . The biggest cost is the time to pull the cable . Having said that , I watched the electrician tighten the screws with a drill ….. the ones that have that torque setting .I was curious to see how tight it was . After he left , I checked how tight and it was really loose ., looser than 5amp lighting circuit screws would have been tightened . would have thought that on a 32amp circuit , he would have made sure it was making a good connection .My recommended goto .wiki/index.ph … ion_Theory
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That would work for sure. In the future, if you ever move out of that house, I’d remove the 240V basement line and disconnect it from the junction box so that it doesn’t become a potential issue for the new homeowners in the future. The upstairs dryer receptacle will obviously still work.One thing to consider is how many wires is inside that 240V line which leads to the dryer receptacle. If it is just two hots and a ground, that will work with the most basic controllers. Some modern and more sophisticated controllers require a neutral wire and it makes it very easy to incorporate a 12V fan to cool the heatsink. If you wish to incorporate a neutral line, but your line does not have one, you could simply disconnect the dryer’s wires from the breaker box and pull it out. You can then connect a new cable that has two hots, a ground and a neutral to the breaker box. It’s super simple to do. Another alternative could be to just run a neutral line from the breaker box into your junction box.4″ VM Build
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If you’re going to do this keep your left hand in your back pocket while at the panel.
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Is the basement distilling area located directly below the dryer outlet?
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