How easy is it to change a 120v outlet to a 240v?

Question

I have to put in a new air conditioner and I believe it needs more voltage than the standard wall outlet. What needs to be done for the circuit to support the air conditioner? It is a window air condition which is only about 6 feet from the circuit box. I am pretty handy and a quick learner, but should I have an electrician do the job or is it fairly straight forward? Any idea on cost to do this?

Answer 1

Actually a good electrician can do it with what you got....if its no 12 copper wire........it's not legal......but it is fine.......my big table saw runs that way all the time...........I also have more on it ...........but I'm careful not to o.d., but i've had 4 tools running at once.......just turn your neutral into a hot leg....and your ground becomes the neutral...........I didnt say that did I?:)You have to rework panel end also...........have fun you won't burn out.

Answer 2

Generally to increase the voltage you have to tap off of your 240 input to your circuit box vice your 120, which means you'll be replacing the 120 breaker with a 240, and then lifting the leads for the breaker on both sides, splicing into 240, and removing 120 to the breaker entierly.  Some breaker boxes use bus bars, which are a lot easier to work with, but generally they're only for commercial.  If you're just wanting one 240 outlet, you can find the junction box, disconnect and de-route the wiring from the outlet (a great time to route the new wiring by using the old), and splice the new wiring directly into either a 240 junction box, or directly at the breaker.  If you're breaker is already close to being fully loaded, you'll need to add a new breaker for your one outlet (look at the amperage and wattage of everything on the breaker).  If you're lucky enough to have a 240 junction box right next to your 120 junction box, you may have enough play in the existing wiring to not re-route wire, but that rarely happens.  As far as overall difficulty, it's not too bad, but it is time consuming, and there's no such thing as too much extra insulation.

Answer 3

You need an electrician. It's not just a matter of changing the outlet, it's the entire circuit from the power box of your house. (And may I say that if you didn't know this, you are not *handy* with electricity, so please don't do it yourself.) An electrician will probably charge a hundred bucks or so, but well worth it.

Answer 4

Your a/c is probably not a 240 volt---read the box and see....It might be a 20 amp instead of a 15 amp.  If it is a 20 amp--you need to change the breaker in the panel to a 20 amp and you need to run 12 gauge (12-2) romex to the outlet....You cannot just change to 240 volt-especially since I highly doubt that it's a 240 volt a/c window unit.  It may run on your standard 15 amp outlet-but could be possibly 20........like I say-check the box or paperwork---it should just be 15 amp 110 volt.......Does the plug look like a normal plug? (like your toaster?)---if so just plug it in and try it out.

Answer 5

You are mad having a split system . So dangerous . Get an electrician. Any thing you do invalidates your insurance.Any thing that happens to you home and they find out you played with the power automatic  no payment on claims