Gentlemen, using a couple of exstention cords plugged into 2 different
outlets in a house that are on different phases will give you the needed 220
volts
in a pinch. You would probably not want to do this on a regular basis
because the 2 breakers associated with each 120volt circuit are not ganged
together as they would be with a regular 2 pole 220 volt breaker.
Someone suggested moving breakers around in the electrical panel.....Hams
like to do electrical in their own homes, but I caution you about moving
breakers around into different locations in a panel.........WHY?
REASON: In some instances a house could be wired with many 3 wire 2 circuit
configurations. Often times (to save wire) electricians will run a 14-3 or
a 12-3 to a kitchen for example. At that point they will split the 3 wire
like this, red wire for the fridge, black wire for the microwave oven with the
white wire a "common nuetral" for both. At the panel the red wire gets a
breaker and the black wire gets a breaker. The IMPORTANT thing here in this
situation is that the red wire breaker and the black wire breaker MUST be
connected to opposing phases (opposite). By one moving breakers around in a
panel
and changing the phases that are associated with the wires involved, one can
inadvertantly put a breaker asscociated with a wire from a 3 wire system on
the SAME phase as its counterpart wire. This is a PROBLEM!!!!!!! If this
done, it is possible to overload the nuetral wire by 2 times its capacity and
a
fire can result!!!!!!!!!!!! Be careful about moving the location of breakers
in a panel if there are 3 wire circuits involved in your panel.
If all wires coming into your panel are 2 wire circuits, this is not a
problem. If you see 120volt circuits that have red wires on them, beware of
this
situation.
I just thought I would mention this for those that are not aware of this
potential problem. If you have moved breakers around in your panel, you might
want to take a close look to see that you dont have a red and black wire
associated with each other on the same phase.
MOST electrical panels alternate phases, however, if you have the
"push-a-matic" type or "Bulldog" breaker panels, they DO NOT alterrnate.
Thanks for your ears............73 Louie W1QJ
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