We're planning on swapping out our electric range with a propane unit. Is there a simple way to convert the 3-phase outlet to 120V? Or is running a new wire from the box the best way to go?
I assume you mean just 220v not actually 3-phase. If it is just 220 yes it is possible but not the right way to do it. I would run a new 12/2 wire for the 110 outlet.We're planning on swapping out our electric range with a propane unit. Is there a simple way to convert the 3-phase outlet to 120V? Or is running a new wire from the box the best way to go?
dobish has the right idea. that's what i would do. you need to run a new line 12/2 (yellow wire) besides the 20 amp circuit breaker won't take more than a 10 ga wire the stove should be a minimum of 8 copper or 6 aluminum
Romex or NM wire is now color coded to indicate the conductor size. White is 14 gauge and yellow is 12 gauge. Its the sheath that goes around the conductor wires that's colored. The conductor wires within the sheath are typically white and black with a bare ground conductor. Red wire is used in 3-conductor NM (3 conductors + ground).
More here: https://www.thespruce.com/what-does-romex-or-nm-mean-1821530
In your case since both outlets are 20 amp then the wire feeding them is correctly sized and the breakers are also sized correctly.But again, 3 conductors + ground does not indicate 3 phase (unless you’re in a commercial delta configuration, which isn’t even available to residential customers). It’s single phase 230V black/red) + common (white) + ground. You should measure 115V nominal from black or red to white or ground, 230V nominal from black to red, and zero from white to ground.
BTW, it IS legal within NEC to run a 110V appliance from white to black or red on a 230V circuit. But the receptacle hardware must be matched to the load protection device, and I’m not sure how to handle the wire gauge issue at the receptacle. It shouldn’t be an issue to find a 20A dual pole breaker with a cage clamp rated for his existing wire gauge, but finding a NEMA 5-20 receptacle with wiring connections rated over AWG-12 may be a challenge. I don’t believe you are allowed to change wire gauge outside of the receptacle box itself (check me in that), and fitting lugs + AWG-12 receptacle pigtails all inside one receptacle box would be damn near impossible.
I know all this because my shop is wired entirely on a 230V/115V dual system. I ran all dual pole breakers on my 20A general purpose circuits, with AWG12/3+G to all 2-gang boxes. One duplex receptacle in each box is NEMA 5-20 the other duplex receptacle in each box is NEMA 6-20, using one hot + common at each box to get 115V, so I have 115 V and 230 V available every receptacle location. This was my own idea, but verified as legal by four different electrical contractors that quoted my job, and the work was done by one of our larger electrical contracting firms who does mostly commercial work.
In your case since both outlets are 20 amp then the wire feeding them is correctly sized and the breakers are also sized correctly.
To go from 230 VAC 40 amp for an electric range down to 120 VAC 15 amp circuit may require smaller gage wire. Just my 2 cents
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