Question for any electrician in the club

[EarlsflyinCobra]

I have a 480 volt 35 amp outlet, in my shop for the Mig/Tig welders we use. I have one outlet that is no longer used. I need a 220 volt, 30 amp circuit for a stove. Can the 480 outlet be split and a 220 volt plug be put in without to much difficulty and cost??

Thanks, Earl

[turnpike boy]

If it is a single phase circuit, yes. I don't think I've seen too many 480v. single phase runs.

That said, you can always check voltage of one hot leg to the grounded and see what's there....if acceptable, you could use one hot and the neutral as a lower voltage single ph. circuit, but you should put each hot run on a separate breaker or disconnect. And be certain to safe off the unused hot leg.

[trularin]

The 440/480 is most likely three phase.

Pull two legs from it and that should be 220 "split phase". Turnpike is right, check the legs with a meter.

Does the 480 outlet have three prongs or four??

[EarlsflyinCobra]

Actually, the 480 box has a solid cover on it, the plug was removed a while back and the wires capped off inside the box. I had one electrician telling me it couldn't be done and another telling me it could.................I am sooooooooooo confused.....thats why I figured I would ask my fellow Cobraphiles...............LOL

[Wes Tausend]

...

I don't really know anything about 480 volt service.

But I did have an idea when following the advice of others on here.

Some electronic circuits occasionally have a "floating" voltage on them making it difficult to determine true voltage under load. The reason is that many modern meters are so high of impedance that they can nearly measure static electricity without draining it off.

So one way to prevent this is to measure a loaded circuit (i.e. one drawing some real power) so that the real voltage is proved a sustainable voltage.

One way to do this in your case would be to hook two equal wattage 110 volt light bulbs in series to what you believe to be 220 volts. They should glow normally with a solid measurable 110 volts across each (split 220v). If you are wrong in your guess, you may be out a couple of light bulbs. Two ceramic sockets don't cost much investment as far as tools go.

I'm probably wrong about floating voltage existing on power circuits, but it is a thought.


...

[Excaliber]

I think you will need a step down transformer, from 480 to 220.

[Mark Husar]

Couple questions for you;
1. Is the panel a commercial/industrial unit?
2. Is the panel labeled as 480/277? or 120/240/480?
3. Is the panel three phase?
4. If you read the voltage between two legs of the input, what is the voltage?
5. What is the voltage of a single input to ground and to common?

Please, if you cannot answer these questions, hire a good electrician who knows industrial panels. Once you make a mistake, it's to late!!

[trularin]

Earl, DO you have a meter?

[turnpike boy]

Earl, I do second Mark's comment about mistakes. I've had my fingers in a lot of switchgear over the years, no problems.

But.

I brushed my elbow up against a buss bar in a 480v. 3 ph. box one time many years ago. I found myself out of the box, on the ground, feeling like I'd been beat all over with a fire hose. Taking a quick hit from a 480v. circuit ain't nuthin like anything you have ever experienced before.....480 really hurts.

Do be very careful. Good lineman's rubber gloves are absolutely mandatory.

[EarlsflyinCobra]

OK guys, thanks for the input so far;

Yes I have a meter.
No I am "NOT" going to mess with anything more than 110 volts.
Not sure about the panel, but the box where the outlet use to be is marked 480.

If it can be done I will be using an electrician to do it.......just have to find the right one.

[trularin]

Use the meter to check the wires.

Something of what we all have been posting may appear to have relevance.

For God's sake, be careful.

[4RE KLR]

So Earl,
When is the BBQ?

Just kidding..... This will kill you if you screw up, please be carefull.

[October-1881]

Not without a transformer.

[Mark Husar]

Earl.
Did you get the panel issue resolved?( Sorry for the late reply, I've been in Fresno on a large project.)

Mark