110V off 220V circuit

dieselscout80 · Oct 4, 2011

I need to temporarily pull 110Vac off a 220Vac circuit for lights. I know that 220Vac with three total wires is two 110Vac legs and a ground. I think I can attach the black from the 110Vac to one of the 220Vac legs to get 110V, but what does the neutral (white wire) of the 110Vac circuit attach to?

Is this safe to do for lights?

gmbracing · Oct 4, 2011

There should be 3 wires for 220vac

black hot 1
red hot 2
white neutral
(maybe green for grounD)

If you connect to either black or red, and use white as neutral you will be OK

white to silver screw
black OR red to brass screw

slowzuki · Oct 4, 2011

No. You can only split a 220 circuit into two if it has a neutral. The ground is there for safety and can't be used as a conductor. You could wire up a pair of lights in series so they will run off 220V.

Edit: The original poster sounds like he has a 220 only circuit like a baseboard heater.

dieselscout80 · Oct 4, 2011

slowzuki said:
No. You can only split a 220 circuit into two if it has a neutral. The ground is there for safety and can't be used as a conductor. You could wire up a pair of lights in series so they will run off 220V.

Edit: The original poster sounds like he has a 220 only circuit like a baseboard heater.

Its a window AC unit plug.

Ok it sounds like that it is NOT possible to due unless the 220Vac circuit has four wires (black, red, green and white{neutrual}) and mine doesn't.

Thanks

whiskywizard · Oct 4, 2011

slowzuki said:
You could wire up a pair of lights in series so they will run off 220V.

dieselscout80 said:
Its a window AC unit plug.

So can he run 2 A/C units in series? :laughing:

kf4uda · Oct 4, 2011

If there is not anything else on the circuit (and there shouldn't be) you could remove the wires from the double pole breaker in the electrical panel and wire one of them to a single pole breaker and the other to neutral. The circuit would now be 110V.

I will caution you that if you are not experienced working in an electrical panel, please hire an electrician.

billybobjimmyjoejack · Oct 4, 2011

If the temporary light that you are using has two prongs on the cord end then you do not need a grounded outlet and using one of the hot leads and the neutral for your outlet would be just fine. I would recommend that you locate an ungrounded outlet for this temporary set up then there is no confusion as to whether or not the outlet is grounded and should only be used with ungrounded appliances (i.e. floor lamp,table lamp,double insulated tools). Yes you can still buy this type of receptacle even at home Depot.

dieselscout80 · Oct 4, 2011

billybobjimmyjoejack said:
If the temporary light that you are using has two prongs on the cord end then you do not need a grounded outlet and using one of the hot leads and the neutral for your outlet would be just fine. I would recommend that you locate an ungrounded outlet for this temporary set up then there is no confusion as to whether or not the outlet is grounded and should only be used with ungrounded appliances (i.e. floor lamp,table lamp,double insulated tools). Yes you can still buy this type of receptacle even at home Depot.

I don't follow?? Where would the neutral hook to on the 220Vac circuit?

ray66v · Oct 4, 2011

slowzuki said:
No. You can only split a 220 circuit into two if it has a neutral. The ground is there for safety and can't be used as a conductor.

Yep, if there is no (white) neutral wire, don't pass go. :thumbsup:

Now, as kfu4da said, there is a good possibility of rewiring it temporarily for 115 vac., but he better be sure how everything is connected, and what the wires are connected to, before doing that.

dieselscout80 · Oct 4, 2011

ray66v said:
Yep, if there is no (white) neutral wire, don't pass go. :thumbsup:

Now, as kfu4da said, there is a good possibility of rewiring it temporarily for 115 vac., but he better be sure how everything is connected, and what the wires are connected to, before doing that.

Thats what I thought.