Mixing
240 V outlet is not delivering 240 V
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
up vote
11
down vote
favorite
I recently moved into an apartment with a 3-prong, NEMA 10-30 outlet. It looks like this:
I bought an old dryer that I confirmed was working before purchasing it and hooked it up and unfortunately the dryer never heated up. I suspected something was up with the outlet, so I busted out the multimeter and measured each connection. I used an Etekcity MSR-R500 and had it set to the AC 500 setting and measured the following:
- Y to X: 0 V
- Y to W: 120 V
- X to W: 120 V
Based on my research it would seem that Y to X should have read 240Â V, not 0. However, the other two connections are both reading 120Â V correctly. I'm wondering what this would typically indicate - bad wiring? If so, what would be a good next step to either fix the issue or confirm the problem? Or at this point is it time to call an electrician?
electrical dryer 240v 120-240v
edited 6 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1466
asked yesterday
Clicquot the Dog
5613
New contributor
Clicquot the Dog is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
11
down vote
favorite
I recently moved into an apartment with a 3-prong, NEMA 10-30 outlet. It looks like this:
I bought an old dryer that I confirmed was working before purchasing it and hooked it up and unfortunately the dryer never heated up. I suspected something was up with the outlet, so I busted out the multimeter and measured each connection. I used an Etekcity MSR-R500 and had it set to the AC 500 setting and measured the following:
- Y to X: 0 V
- Y to W: 120 V
- X to W: 120 V
Based on my research it would seem that Y to X should have read 240Â V, not 0. However, the other two connections are both reading 120Â V correctly. I'm wondering what this would typically indicate - bad wiring? If so, what would be a good next step to either fix the issue or confirm the problem? Or at this point is it time to call an electrician?
electrical dryer 240v 120-240v
edited 6 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1466
asked yesterday
Clicquot the Dog
5613
New contributor
Clicquot the Dog is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
It's vaguely possible that some other 240v load is on the same circuit and half of the circuit breaker has tripped. Otherwise, likely both legs of the circuit have been wired to the same leg in the breaker panel. Both of these options suggest a case of miswiring. If the apartment owner won't address it, complain to the electrical inspector.
– Hot Licks
10 hours ago
It does seem as if X and Y are the same polarity rather than opposite polarity. Hope your dryer is okay.
– Kaz
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
11
down vote
favorite
up vote
11
down vote
favorite
I recently moved into an apartment with a 3-prong, NEMA 10-30 outlet. It looks like this:
I bought an old dryer that I confirmed was working before purchasing it and hooked it up and unfortunately the dryer never heated up. I suspected something was up with the outlet, so I busted out the multimeter and measured each connection. I used an Etekcity MSR-R500 and had it set to the AC 500 setting and measured the following:
- Y to X: 0 V
- Y to W: 120 V
- X to W: 120 V
Based on my research it would seem that Y to X should have read 240Â V, not 0. However, the other two connections are both reading 120Â V correctly. I'm wondering what this would typically indicate - bad wiring? If so, what would be a good next step to either fix the issue or confirm the problem? Or at this point is it time to call an electrician?
electrical dryer 240v 120-240v
edited 6 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1466
asked yesterday
Clicquot the Dog
5613
New contributor
Clicquot the Dog is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I recently moved into an apartment with a 3-prong, NEMA 10-30 outlet. It looks like this:
I bought an old dryer that I confirmed was working before purchasing it and hooked it up and unfortunately the dryer never heated up. I suspected something was up with the outlet, so I busted out the multimeter and measured each connection. I used an Etekcity MSR-R500 and had it set to the AC 500 setting and measured the following:
- Y to X: 0 V
- Y to W: 120 V
- X to W: 120 V
Based on my research it would seem that Y to X should have read 240Â V, not 0. However, the other two connections are both reading 120Â V correctly. I'm wondering what this would typically indicate - bad wiring? If so, what would be a good next step to either fix the issue or confirm the problem? Or at this point is it time to call an electrician?
electrical dryer 240v 120-240v
electrical dryer 240v 120-240v
edited 6 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1466
asked yesterday
Clicquot the Dog
5613
New contributor
Clicquot the Dog is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 6 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1466
asked yesterday
Clicquot the Dog
5613
New contributor
Clicquot the Dog is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 6 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1466
edited 6 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1466
edited 6 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1466
1466
asked yesterday
Clicquot the Dog
5613
New contributor
Clicquot the Dog is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
Clicquot the Dog
5613
asked yesterday
Clicquot the Dog
5613
5613
New contributor
Clicquot the Dog is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Clicquot the Dog is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Clicquot the Dog is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
It's vaguely possible that some other 240v load is on the same circuit and half of the circuit breaker has tripped. Otherwise, likely both legs of the circuit have been wired to the same leg in the breaker panel. Both of these options suggest a case of miswiring. If the apartment owner won't address it, complain to the electrical inspector.
– Hot Licks
10 hours ago
It does seem as if X and Y are the same polarity rather than opposite polarity. Hope your dryer is okay.
– Kaz
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
2
It's vaguely possible that some other 240v load is on the same circuit and half of the circuit breaker has tripped. Otherwise, likely both legs of the circuit have been wired to the same leg in the breaker panel. Both of these options suggest a case of miswiring. If the apartment owner won't address it, complain to the electrical inspector.
– Hot Licks
10 hours ago
It does seem as if X and Y are the same polarity rather than opposite polarity. Hope your dryer is okay.
– Kaz
4 hours ago
2
2
It's vaguely possible that some other 240v load is on the same circuit and half of the circuit breaker has tripped. Otherwise, likely both legs of the circuit have been wired to the same leg in the breaker panel. Both of these options suggest a case of miswiring. If the apartment owner won't address it, complain to the electrical inspector.
– Hot Licks
10 hours ago
It's vaguely possible that some other 240v load is on the same circuit and half of the circuit breaker has tripped. Otherwise, likely both legs of the circuit have been wired to the same leg in the breaker panel. Both of these options suggest a case of miswiring. If the apartment owner won't address it, complain to the electrical inspector.
– Hot Licks
10 hours ago
It does seem as if X and Y are the same polarity rather than opposite polarity. Hope your dryer is okay.
– Kaz
4 hours ago
It does seem as if X and Y are the same polarity rather than opposite polarity. Hope your dryer is okay.
– Kaz
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
21
down vote
I bet if you go to your service panel, you're going to find a completely full service panel, and a unique creature we call a "double-stuff breaker". Quite likely the landlord does his own electrical work or pays a dumb handyman (naughty naughty). He's out of space in the panel, so he resorted to those double-stuffs.
He moved the dryer from a 2-pole breaker (which takes 2 spaces) to a duplex breaker that takes only one space. As my link discusses, one space sees only one pole, so you get what you saw. Any proper electrician would notice a "red flag" where the duplex sides can turned off individually, making it unsafe for dryer use.
Since this is a rental, you can't fix any of this. Most jurisdictions require commercial work be done only by licensed electricians, and rental properties are considered commercial. You can't, he can't, his handyman can't. A pro electrician is required.
Given this level of incompetence, I would not advise trusting that circuit. The obsolete and dangerous 3-prong connections absolutely rely on the neutral wire being intact and not broken. If neutral breaks, the chassis of the dryer becomes electrified and can kill you, especially as you are handling wet things and touching both dryer (electrified) and washer (grounded).
But since he must fix it, he should consider bringing in someone competent, and upgrading the circuit to modern, safe NEMA 14 standard. This will require you change the dryer plug (back to what it was shipped with), but will be much safer for your family.
answered yesterday
Harper
58.4k336122
I don't see how this theory is consistent with the measurements OP took.
– R..
17 hours ago
2
@R.. I don't know what to tell you, either it's a knowledge gap issue, or you are used to working with GE Q-line panels, which are an exception. Read my treatise on double stuffs for how normal panels do it. Normal duplex breakers occupy 1 space, only have access to 1 pole, and so cannot provide opposing poles, doing what OP observes. Pole to pole on a duplex is 0V because it's the same pole.
– Harper
16 hours ago
1
@R.. Read Ed Beal's comment in that "double stuff" link.I have been called to a home the dryer did not work after a tandem 30 amp breaker was installed DIY. The drum would turn but no heat because it was only 120v.Sounds spot on to me
– Machavity
11 hours ago
@Harper: OK, that clarifies it.
– R..
8 hours ago
2
For what it's worth, what confused me is "Didn't notice the duplex sides can turned off individually, making them unfit for dryer use." That's what makes it unsafe, but what makes it unfit is just that they're both on the same pole and thus provide 0V between them.
– R..
8 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
10
down vote
One possibility is that the two hots, labelled X and Y, are on the same line.
The 240V electrical service typical in the US is a three wire Edison circuit, with two of the service wires, commonly designated L1 and L2, are at 240VAC at 60Hz, with the neutral tapped midway between the two - 120V L1 to N and 120V L2 to N - and the neutral is grounded.
In your electrical panel, a 240V 2-pole breaker will attach to bus bars that are each in turn connected to L1 and L2. So the two poles of the breaker are at 240V.
If the wires at that receptacle go back to a 240V breaker, properly installed in the panel, it would be very unusual to see anything but 240V at the receptacle.
However if the wires for that receptacle are terminated on two breakers that are both on L1 or both on L2, you will see just what you're seeing. For example, if they used a tandem breaker - the space saver breaker that squeezes two breakers in a single space - you'll see just what you're seeing.
There may be other possibilities, including something wrong in the wiring between the breaker and the receptacle.
answered yesterday
batsplatsterson
6,6171022
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
It's wired wrong.
Someone connected both X and Y to the same 110V side of the electrical service.
The only fix is to move either the X or Y wire to it's proper location, attached to the other leg of the electrical service.
If the wiring problem is in the circuit breaker panel, it's because he used two single pole breakers instead of 1 double pole breaker. If he had used the double pole breaker, it would have been impossible to wire wrong.
You need to tell the landlord, and he'll need to get someone to fix it.
If he won't fix it, you can actually modify the dryer to run on 110V. It's a simple change and should be documented in the installation instructions. The only problem is that everything will dry very slowly.
answered 9 hours ago
Terry Carmen
1707
New contributor
Terry Carmen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
21
down vote
I bet if you go to your service panel, you're going to find a completely full service panel, and a unique creature we call a "double-stuff breaker". Quite likely the landlord does his own electrical work or pays a dumb handyman (naughty naughty). He's out of space in the panel, so he resorted to those double-stuffs.
He moved the dryer from a 2-pole breaker (which takes 2 spaces) to a duplex breaker that takes only one space. As my link discusses, one space sees only one pole, so you get what you saw. Any proper electrician would notice a "red flag" where the duplex sides can turned off individually, making it unsafe for dryer use.
Since this is a rental, you can't fix any of this. Most jurisdictions require commercial work be done only by licensed electricians, and rental properties are considered commercial. You can't, he can't, his handyman can't. A pro electrician is required.
Given this level of incompetence, I would not advise trusting that circuit. The obsolete and dangerous 3-prong connections absolutely rely on the neutral wire being intact and not broken. If neutral breaks, the chassis of the dryer becomes electrified and can kill you, especially as you are handling wet things and touching both dryer (electrified) and washer (grounded).
But since he must fix it, he should consider bringing in someone competent, and upgrading the circuit to modern, safe NEMA 14 standard. This will require you change the dryer plug (back to what it was shipped with), but will be much safer for your family.
answered yesterday
Harper
58.4k336122
I don't see how this theory is consistent with the measurements OP took.
– R..
17 hours ago
2
@R.. I don't know what to tell you, either it's a knowledge gap issue, or you are used to working with GE Q-line panels, which are an exception. Read my treatise on double stuffs for how normal panels do it. Normal duplex breakers occupy 1 space, only have access to 1 pole, and so cannot provide opposing poles, doing what OP observes. Pole to pole on a duplex is 0V because it's the same pole.
– Harper
16 hours ago
1
@R.. Read Ed Beal's comment in that "double stuff" link.I have been called to a home the dryer did not work after a tandem 30 amp breaker was installed DIY. The drum would turn but no heat because it was only 120v.Sounds spot on to me
– Machavity
11 hours ago
@Harper: OK, that clarifies it.
– R..
8 hours ago
2
For what it's worth, what confused me is "Didn't notice the duplex sides can turned off individually, making them unfit for dryer use." That's what makes it unsafe, but what makes it unfit is just that they're both on the same pole and thus provide 0V between them.
– R..
8 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
21
down vote
I bet if you go to your service panel, you're going to find a completely full service panel, and a unique creature we call a "double-stuff breaker". Quite likely the landlord does his own electrical work or pays a dumb handyman (naughty naughty). He's out of space in the panel, so he resorted to those double-stuffs.
He moved the dryer from a 2-pole breaker (which takes 2 spaces) to a duplex breaker that takes only one space. As my link discusses, one space sees only one pole, so you get what you saw. Any proper electrician would notice a "red flag" where the duplex sides can turned off individually, making it unsafe for dryer use.
Since this is a rental, you can't fix any of this. Most jurisdictions require commercial work be done only by licensed electricians, and rental properties are considered commercial. You can't, he can't, his handyman can't. A pro electrician is required.
Given this level of incompetence, I would not advise trusting that circuit. The obsolete and dangerous 3-prong connections absolutely rely on the neutral wire being intact and not broken. If neutral breaks, the chassis of the dryer becomes electrified and can kill you, especially as you are handling wet things and touching both dryer (electrified) and washer (grounded).
But since he must fix it, he should consider bringing in someone competent, and upgrading the circuit to modern, safe NEMA 14 standard. This will require you change the dryer plug (back to what it was shipped with), but will be much safer for your family.
answered yesterday
Harper
58.4k336122
I don't see how this theory is consistent with the measurements OP took.
– R..
17 hours ago
2
@R.. I don't know what to tell you, either it's a knowledge gap issue, or you are used to working with GE Q-line panels, which are an exception. Read my treatise on double stuffs for how normal panels do it. Normal duplex breakers occupy 1 space, only have access to 1 pole, and so cannot provide opposing poles, doing what OP observes. Pole to pole on a duplex is 0V because it's the same pole.
– Harper
16 hours ago
1
@R.. Read Ed Beal's comment in that "double stuff" link.I have been called to a home the dryer did not work after a tandem 30 amp breaker was installed DIY. The drum would turn but no heat because it was only 120v.Sounds spot on to me
– Machavity
11 hours ago
@Harper: OK, that clarifies it.
– R..
8 hours ago
2
For what it's worth, what confused me is "Didn't notice the duplex sides can turned off individually, making them unfit for dryer use." That's what makes it unsafe, but what makes it unfit is just that they're both on the same pole and thus provide 0V between them.
– R..
8 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
21
down vote
up vote
21
down vote
I bet if you go to your service panel, you're going to find a completely full service panel, and a unique creature we call a "double-stuff breaker". Quite likely the landlord does his own electrical work or pays a dumb handyman (naughty naughty). He's out of space in the panel, so he resorted to those double-stuffs.
He moved the dryer from a 2-pole breaker (which takes 2 spaces) to a duplex breaker that takes only one space. As my link discusses, one space sees only one pole, so you get what you saw. Any proper electrician would notice a "red flag" where the duplex sides can turned off individually, making it unsafe for dryer use.
Since this is a rental, you can't fix any of this. Most jurisdictions require commercial work be done only by licensed electricians, and rental properties are considered commercial. You can't, he can't, his handyman can't. A pro electrician is required.
Given this level of incompetence, I would not advise trusting that circuit. The obsolete and dangerous 3-prong connections absolutely rely on the neutral wire being intact and not broken. If neutral breaks, the chassis of the dryer becomes electrified and can kill you, especially as you are handling wet things and touching both dryer (electrified) and washer (grounded).
But since he must fix it, he should consider bringing in someone competent, and upgrading the circuit to modern, safe NEMA 14 standard. This will require you change the dryer plug (back to what it was shipped with), but will be much safer for your family.
answered yesterday
Harper
58.4k336122
I bet if you go to your service panel, you're going to find a completely full service panel, and a unique creature we call a "double-stuff breaker". Quite likely the landlord does his own electrical work or pays a dumb handyman (naughty naughty). He's out of space in the panel, so he resorted to those double-stuffs.
He moved the dryer from a 2-pole breaker (which takes 2 spaces) to a duplex breaker that takes only one space. As my link discusses, one space sees only one pole, so you get what you saw. Any proper electrician would notice a "red flag" where the duplex sides can turned off individually, making it unsafe for dryer use.
Since this is a rental, you can't fix any of this. Most jurisdictions require commercial work be done only by licensed electricians, and rental properties are considered commercial. You can't, he can't, his handyman can't. A pro electrician is required.
Given this level of incompetence, I would not advise trusting that circuit. The obsolete and dangerous 3-prong connections absolutely rely on the neutral wire being intact and not broken. If neutral breaks, the chassis of the dryer becomes electrified and can kill you, especially as you are handling wet things and touching both dryer (electrified) and washer (grounded).
But since he must fix it, he should consider bringing in someone competent, and upgrading the circuit to modern, safe NEMA 14 standard. This will require you change the dryer plug (back to what it was shipped with), but will be much safer for your family.
answered yesterday
Harper
58.4k336122
edited 7 hours ago
answered yesterday
Harper
58.4k336122
answered yesterday
Harper
58.4k336122
answered yesterday
Harper
58.4k336122
58.4k336122
I don't see how this theory is consistent with the measurements OP took.
– R..
17 hours ago
2
@R.. I don't know what to tell you, either it's a knowledge gap issue, or you are used to working with GE Q-line panels, which are an exception. Read my treatise on double stuffs for how normal panels do it. Normal duplex breakers occupy 1 space, only have access to 1 pole, and so cannot provide opposing poles, doing what OP observes. Pole to pole on a duplex is 0V because it's the same pole.
– Harper
16 hours ago
1
@R.. Read Ed Beal's comment in that "double stuff" link.I have been called to a home the dryer did not work after a tandem 30 amp breaker was installed DIY. The drum would turn but no heat because it was only 120v.Sounds spot on to me
– Machavity
11 hours ago
@Harper: OK, that clarifies it.
– R..
8 hours ago
2
For what it's worth, what confused me is "Didn't notice the duplex sides can turned off individually, making them unfit for dryer use." That's what makes it unsafe, but what makes it unfit is just that they're both on the same pole and thus provide 0V between them.
– R..
8 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
I don't see how this theory is consistent with the measurements OP took.
– R..
17 hours ago
2
@R.. I don't know what to tell you, either it's a knowledge gap issue, or you are used to working with GE Q-line panels, which are an exception. Read my treatise on double stuffs for how normal panels do it. Normal duplex breakers occupy 1 space, only have access to 1 pole, and so cannot provide opposing poles, doing what OP observes. Pole to pole on a duplex is 0V because it's the same pole.
– Harper
16 hours ago
1
@R.. Read Ed Beal's comment in that "double stuff" link.I have been called to a home the dryer did not work after a tandem 30 amp breaker was installed DIY. The drum would turn but no heat because it was only 120v.Sounds spot on to me
– Machavity
11 hours ago
@Harper: OK, that clarifies it.
– R..
8 hours ago
2
For what it's worth, what confused me is "Didn't notice the duplex sides can turned off individually, making them unfit for dryer use." That's what makes it unsafe, but what makes it unfit is just that they're both on the same pole and thus provide 0V between them.
– R..
8 hours ago
I don't see how this theory is consistent with the measurements OP took.
– R..
17 hours ago
I don't see how this theory is consistent with the measurements OP took.
– R..
17 hours ago
2
2
@R.. I don't know what to tell you, either it's a knowledge gap issue, or you are used to working with GE Q-line panels, which are an exception. Read my treatise on double stuffs for how normal panels do it. Normal duplex breakers occupy 1 space, only have access to 1 pole, and so cannot provide opposing poles, doing what OP observes. Pole to pole on a duplex is 0V because it's the same pole.
– Harper
16 hours ago
@R.. I don't know what to tell you, either it's a knowledge gap issue, or you are used to working with GE Q-line panels, which are an exception. Read my treatise on double stuffs for how normal panels do it. Normal duplex breakers occupy 1 space, only have access to 1 pole, and so cannot provide opposing poles, doing what OP observes. Pole to pole on a duplex is 0V because it's the same pole.
– Harper
16 hours ago
1
1
@R.. Read Ed Beal's comment in that "double stuff" link.
I have been called to a home the dryer did not work after a tandem 30 amp breaker was installed DIY. The drum would turn but no heat because it was only 120v. Sounds spot on to me– Machavity
11 hours ago
@R.. Read Ed Beal's comment in that "double stuff" link.
I have been called to a home the dryer did not work after a tandem 30 amp breaker was installed DIY. The drum would turn but no heat because it was only 120v. Sounds spot on to me– Machavity
11 hours ago
@Harper: OK, that clarifies it.
– R..
8 hours ago
@Harper: OK, that clarifies it.
– R..
8 hours ago
2
2
For what it's worth, what confused me is "Didn't notice the duplex sides can turned off individually, making them unfit for dryer use." That's what makes it unsafe, but what makes it unfit is just that they're both on the same pole and thus provide 0V between them.
– R..
8 hours ago
For what it's worth, what confused me is "Didn't notice the duplex sides can turned off individually, making them unfit for dryer use." That's what makes it unsafe, but what makes it unfit is just that they're both on the same pole and thus provide 0V between them.
– R..
8 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
10
down vote
One possibility is that the two hots, labelled X and Y, are on the same line.
The 240V electrical service typical in the US is a three wire Edison circuit, with two of the service wires, commonly designated L1 and L2, are at 240VAC at 60Hz, with the neutral tapped midway between the two - 120V L1 to N and 120V L2 to N - and the neutral is grounded.
In your electrical panel, a 240V 2-pole breaker will attach to bus bars that are each in turn connected to L1 and L2. So the two poles of the breaker are at 240V.
If the wires at that receptacle go back to a 240V breaker, properly installed in the panel, it would be very unusual to see anything but 240V at the receptacle.
However if the wires for that receptacle are terminated on two breakers that are both on L1 or both on L2, you will see just what you're seeing. For example, if they used a tandem breaker - the space saver breaker that squeezes two breakers in a single space - you'll see just what you're seeing.
There may be other possibilities, including something wrong in the wiring between the breaker and the receptacle.
answered yesterday
batsplatsterson
6,6171022
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
One possibility is that the two hots, labelled X and Y, are on the same line.
The 240V electrical service typical in the US is a three wire Edison circuit, with two of the service wires, commonly designated L1 and L2, are at 240VAC at 60Hz, with the neutral tapped midway between the two - 120V L1 to N and 120V L2 to N - and the neutral is grounded.
In your electrical panel, a 240V 2-pole breaker will attach to bus bars that are each in turn connected to L1 and L2. So the two poles of the breaker are at 240V.
If the wires at that receptacle go back to a 240V breaker, properly installed in the panel, it would be very unusual to see anything but 240V at the receptacle.
However if the wires for that receptacle are terminated on two breakers that are both on L1 or both on L2, you will see just what you're seeing. For example, if they used a tandem breaker - the space saver breaker that squeezes two breakers in a single space - you'll see just what you're seeing.
There may be other possibilities, including something wrong in the wiring between the breaker and the receptacle.
answered yesterday
batsplatsterson
6,6171022
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
up vote
10
down vote
One possibility is that the two hots, labelled X and Y, are on the same line.
The 240V electrical service typical in the US is a three wire Edison circuit, with two of the service wires, commonly designated L1 and L2, are at 240VAC at 60Hz, with the neutral tapped midway between the two - 120V L1 to N and 120V L2 to N - and the neutral is grounded.
In your electrical panel, a 240V 2-pole breaker will attach to bus bars that are each in turn connected to L1 and L2. So the two poles of the breaker are at 240V.
If the wires at that receptacle go back to a 240V breaker, properly installed in the panel, it would be very unusual to see anything but 240V at the receptacle.
However if the wires for that receptacle are terminated on two breakers that are both on L1 or both on L2, you will see just what you're seeing. For example, if they used a tandem breaker - the space saver breaker that squeezes two breakers in a single space - you'll see just what you're seeing.
There may be other possibilities, including something wrong in the wiring between the breaker and the receptacle.
answered yesterday
batsplatsterson
6,6171022
One possibility is that the two hots, labelled X and Y, are on the same line.
The 240V electrical service typical in the US is a three wire Edison circuit, with two of the service wires, commonly designated L1 and L2, are at 240VAC at 60Hz, with the neutral tapped midway between the two - 120V L1 to N and 120V L2 to N - and the neutral is grounded.
In your electrical panel, a 240V 2-pole breaker will attach to bus bars that are each in turn connected to L1 and L2. So the two poles of the breaker are at 240V.
If the wires at that receptacle go back to a 240V breaker, properly installed in the panel, it would be very unusual to see anything but 240V at the receptacle.
However if the wires for that receptacle are terminated on two breakers that are both on L1 or both on L2, you will see just what you're seeing. For example, if they used a tandem breaker - the space saver breaker that squeezes two breakers in a single space - you'll see just what you're seeing.
There may be other possibilities, including something wrong in the wiring between the breaker and the receptacle.
answered yesterday
batsplatsterson
6,6171022
edited 5 hours ago
answered yesterday
batsplatsterson
6,6171022
answered yesterday
batsplatsterson
6,6171022
answered yesterday
batsplatsterson
6,6171022
6,6171022
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
It's wired wrong.
Someone connected both X and Y to the same 110V side of the electrical service.
The only fix is to move either the X or Y wire to it's proper location, attached to the other leg of the electrical service.
If the wiring problem is in the circuit breaker panel, it's because he used two single pole breakers instead of 1 double pole breaker. If he had used the double pole breaker, it would have been impossible to wire wrong.
You need to tell the landlord, and he'll need to get someone to fix it.
If he won't fix it, you can actually modify the dryer to run on 110V. It's a simple change and should be documented in the installation instructions. The only problem is that everything will dry very slowly.
answered 9 hours ago
Terry Carmen
1707
New contributor
Terry Carmen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
It's wired wrong.
Someone connected both X and Y to the same 110V side of the electrical service.
The only fix is to move either the X or Y wire to it's proper location, attached to the other leg of the electrical service.
If the wiring problem is in the circuit breaker panel, it's because he used two single pole breakers instead of 1 double pole breaker. If he had used the double pole breaker, it would have been impossible to wire wrong.
You need to tell the landlord, and he'll need to get someone to fix it.
If he won't fix it, you can actually modify the dryer to run on 110V. It's a simple change and should be documented in the installation instructions. The only problem is that everything will dry very slowly.
answered 9 hours ago
Terry Carmen
1707
New contributor
Terry Carmen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
It's wired wrong.
Someone connected both X and Y to the same 110V side of the electrical service.
The only fix is to move either the X or Y wire to it's proper location, attached to the other leg of the electrical service.
If the wiring problem is in the circuit breaker panel, it's because he used two single pole breakers instead of 1 double pole breaker. If he had used the double pole breaker, it would have been impossible to wire wrong.
You need to tell the landlord, and he'll need to get someone to fix it.
If he won't fix it, you can actually modify the dryer to run on 110V. It's a simple change and should be documented in the installation instructions. The only problem is that everything will dry very slowly.
answered 9 hours ago
Terry Carmen
1707
New contributor
Terry Carmen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
It's wired wrong.
Someone connected both X and Y to the same 110V side of the electrical service.
The only fix is to move either the X or Y wire to it's proper location, attached to the other leg of the electrical service.
If the wiring problem is in the circuit breaker panel, it's because he used two single pole breakers instead of 1 double pole breaker. If he had used the double pole breaker, it would have been impossible to wire wrong.
You need to tell the landlord, and he'll need to get someone to fix it.
If he won't fix it, you can actually modify the dryer to run on 110V. It's a simple change and should be documented in the installation instructions. The only problem is that everything will dry very slowly.
answered 9 hours ago
Terry Carmen
1707
New contributor
Terry Carmen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 5 hours ago
answered 9 hours ago
Terry Carmen
1707
New contributor
Terry Carmen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 9 hours ago
Terry Carmen
1707
answered 9 hours ago
Terry Carmen
1707
1707
New contributor
Terry Carmen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Terry Carmen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Terry Carmen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
Clicquot the Dog is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Clicquot the Dog is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Clicquot the Dog is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Clicquot the Dog is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fdiy.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f149497%2f240-v-outlet-is-not-delivering-240-v%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
2
It's vaguely possible that some other 240v load is on the same circuit and half of the circuit breaker has tripped. Otherwise, likely both legs of the circuit have been wired to the same leg in the breaker panel. Both of these options suggest a case of miswiring. If the apartment owner won't address it, complain to the electrical inspector.
– Hot Licks
10 hours ago
It does seem as if X and Y are the same polarity rather than opposite polarity. Hope your dryer is okay.
– Kaz
4 hours ago