220v circuits

[lotsoftools]

Here's a weird one, I need help. So I am trying to label the panel in this house and ran into an issue. This was my parents house, we live in it now. I asked my dad if knows what circuit does what, but he can't remember.

Anyways, there are 8 x 220 breakers. I figured out 6 of them, but have no idea what the other 2 do. I switch them off and nothing shuts down.

Here is what I found so far.

Detached Shop
Water Heater
Range
Dryer
A/C outside
Furnace

Any ideas on the other 2? Would there be some other secret machine in a house that I can't think of? There are no 220 outlets in the garage.

I'm keeping them switched off for now.

 

[tipsy]

Couple of thoughts. Did you open panel to see if wires are actually connected to each of the breakers? another thought was, prior to central air was there window units for a/c? Look for 220 outlets behind drapery or furniture.

 

[Stuff]

Furnaces can have multiple 240 volt feeds.

 

[Whitworth]

Suggestions;

Well pump

2nd zone AC/heating

A sub panel located somewhere else.

 

[2Big2Ride]

What size wire and breaker? Is it possibly a multi-wire branch circuit?

 

[Milton Shaw]

Could the house be old enough for ceiling heat as some of them in my house were double pole breakers. I agree look around for outlets with single plugs as they could be for window units or for 240 stack heaters.

 

[dw1]

How old is the panel? can you take a pic of it? cover on and pic of cover off.
Could be an older split bus panel, you could have 1- 220 breaker that feeds the bottom half of the panel.

 

[lotsoftools]

The house was built in 94, so not terribly old. Definitely no window AC units, it has always only had central air. The machine outside is an AC/Heat Pump, I believe. I now think they had also run a circuit for a hot tub that was never installed, but as far as I can tell there isn't any wiring.
I'll try to take the cover off this weekend to get a better look at it, and will see if I can snap a picture too.

 

[urbanG33K]

Dishwasher? I'm pretty sure mine is 220.

Big built in convection/microwave??

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Couple of thoughts. Did you open panel to see if wires are actually connected to each of the breakers? another thought was, prior to central air was there window units for a/c? Look for 220 outlets behind drapery or furniture.

 

[Mustang51js]

What size is the breakers,that will narrow it down alot

 

[dw1]

What size wire and breaker? Is it possibly a multi-wire branch circuit?

Good answer! what size are the two breakers you are trying to identify. If your house was built in 94, you do not have a split bus panel, dis-reguard my above post.

is the area around the panel finished? can you find the wires from the breakers and follow them ?

 

[James-W]

Is the area around the panel finished? Can you find the wires from the breakers and follow them ?

Even if you are not able to follow the wires all the way to where they go, if you can get a general direction they are headed it will help to narrow down the search.

 

[Mustang51js]

Baseboard heat,doesn't seem like you have natural gas or propane based on the other 220 stuff you have

 

[PT Doc]

Jetted tub in master? Jetted tub outside?

 

[bczygan]

Do the neighbors lights go on and off when you switch the breaker?

 

[G_P]

Outdoor receptacle for an RV?
Hot tub that was never installed but the wiring was put in?
Sewage grinder pump?


Best bet is to pull the cover off the panel and see if there is even wiring to those breakers or if they were just put in as spares and never hooked up.

 

[rodster_67]

Do the neighbors lights go on and off when you switch the breaker?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

You said furnace, then Heat pump. If you have a heat pump, then you most likely have electric heating strips in the air handler. The heat strips would be a 60 amp double pole breaker or possibly a couple of 40 double poles.

Turn off the A/C outside breaker, this will kill the heat pump. Then push the thermostat up. This will command heat strips to come on. If they do, you will smell them as the dust is burning off of them. If you don't, close those breakers and then see if you smell them and feel any heat from the vents. Indicator lamp on the thermostat will probably come on even if the 240V for the heat strips is tripped.

By the way, its 240v, not 220v. Hasn't been 220v in 50 years or so.

Charles

 

[2Big2Ride]

The house was built in 94, so not terribly old. Definitely no window AC units, it has always only had central air. The machine outside is an AC/Heat Pump, I believe. I now think they had also run a circuit for a hot tub that was never installed, but as far as I can tell there isn't any wiring.
I'll try to take the cover off this weekend to get a better look at it, and will see if I can snap a picture too.

Our heat pump uses three 240 circuits.
1) outdoor unit
2) air handler (fan) in the attic
3) heat strips in the air handler

 

[lotsoftools]

Thanks for the help everyone!

I got it figured out.

There are 3 for the AC/Heat. The other mystery circuit was an unused dryer outlet hidden in the wall.

 

[lotsoftools]

You said furnace, then Heat pump. If you have a heat pump, then you most likely have electric heating strips in the air handler. The heat strips would be a 60 amp double pole breaker or possibly a couple of 40 double poles.

Turn off the A/C outside breaker, this will kill the heat pump. Then push the thermostat up. This will command heat strips to come on. If they do, you will smell them as the dust is burning off of them. If you don't, close those breakers and then see if you smell them and feel any heat from the vents. Indicator lamp on the thermostat will probably come on even if the 240V for the heat strips is tripped.

By the way, its 240v, not 220v. Hasn't been 220v in 50 years or so.

Charles

Thanks! It was the heat strips that threw me off. I knew it changed, but I always call it 220 anyways.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Dishwasher? I'm pretty sure mine is 220.

Big built in convection/microwave??

240v dishwasher? Huh?

That would be a first for me!