Need a little verification

[Hot shot]

I have a 240 20 amp circuit that runs to my attached carport
Original owners had it there to run a small generator
I have been using it for my air compressor but no longer need it since I have a garage now
Would it be ok to swap the dp breaker with a single pole 20 amp and of course a 20 amp receptacle
Haven’t looked yet but assuming it has 4 wires, one of which would not be used
Should be 12 gauge wire
Anything wrong with 12 gauge wire for a 120 volt circuit

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[pattenp]

A 120V 20A circuit needs #12, so you're good to go if it is #12.

 

[38Chevy454]

You can actually split into two 20A 120v circuits. Need two breakers of course, one for each leg of the 240v circuit. Just ensure the old wiring has a neutral for each 120v leg. Some older 240v circuit only have the 2 hot legs and ground.

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[Hot shot]

Man, out of the 2 brain cells I have left only 1 was working
on the 12 gauge for 20 amps LOL ��
Good idea on doing 2 receptacles
Thanks

 

[Norcal]

The receptacle(s) also require GFCI protection.

 

[The Cobbler]

You can actually split into two 20A 120v circuits. Need two breakers of course, one for each leg of the 240v circuit. Just ensure the old wiring has a neutral for each 120v leg. Some older 240v circuit only have the 2 hot legs and ground.

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wrong information
he can get 2 120 circuits only if there is a neutral, and must use a double pole breaker . probably no neutral exists for this .
todays wiring, a 240 circuit only requires 2 hots and a ground . no neutral required.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Need two breakers of course, one for each leg of the 240v circuit. Just ensure the old wiring has a neutral for each 120v leg.

He can use the same 2 pole breaker, and it doesn't need a neutral for each leg.
It becomes a Multiwire Branch Circuit.

 

[Bert_]

I can almost guarantee that there is not 4 wires ran to the box. It has a black, white, and ground. The white will have been reidentified as the second hot.

You can still convert to 120. Just move the white wire from the breaker to the neutral bus and install a single pole breaker on the black wire.

 

[MikeF2316]

I can almost guarantee that there is not 4 wires ran to the box. It has a black, white, and ground. The white will have been reidentified as the second hot.

You can still convert to 120. Just move the white wire from the breaker to the neutral bus and install a single pole breaker on the black wire.

This is my bet too! People don't generally run a 4 wires when they only need 3. Except if they're Garage Journal members.

 

[Hot shot]

Looked at receptacle a few minutes ago
Been busy building a small deck/stoop on the side door of my home
Bert you are spot on buddy
Black white and ground
I’ll go to supply house Monday and get what I need
Thanks for everybody’s help

 

[TractorJeff]

OP said, "I have a 240 20 amp circuit that runs to my attached carport
Original owners had it there to run a small generator"

This is scary!

 

[like2wheel]

OP said, "I have a 240 20 amp circuit that runs to my attached carport
Original owners had it there to run a small generator"

This is scary!

It must've had a 240 electric starter.

Was wondering why no one mentioned it sooner

 

[Hot shot]

I assuming they were backfeeding when power went out
Don’t know if it was small but 20 amps isn’t a whole lot
The dp breaker in the panel has generator wrote on it

 

[AntonLargiader]

How does backfeeding work when there's no neutral? Only for 240V circuits?

 

[Hot shot]

Couldn’t tell ya

 

[Bert_]

Chances are the neutral is bonded in both the generator and the house panel. Neutral current will flow on the ground. Pretty sketchy set up.

 

[Hot shot]

Bert
What exactly is bonding in the panel
I’m just picturing black wire, white wire both connected to the Dp breaker and of course ground


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[brewchief]

Bert
What exactly is bonding in the panel
I’m just picturing black wire, white wire both connected to the Dp breaker and of course ground


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In the main panel (or first point of disconnect if the main panel isn't the first point) the neutral and ground are connected (bonded), after that point they should be separate.

I wonder if that was originally a normal 120v outlet and someone "repurposed" it into a way to improperly backfeed from a generator.

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[Hot shot]

That’s possible
Was in Home Depot today
Picked up a levitron 20a gfci outdoor receptacle
Should I have gotten a different brand

 

[Bert_]

That’s possible
Was in Home Depot today
Picked up a levitron 20a gfci outdoor receptacle
Should I have gotten a different brand

Leviton is good. Hopefully you picked up a cover also.

 

[Hot shot]

I didn’t think about it Bert but I believe I have some in the garage


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[Lassen Forge]

Leviton is a good brand - been using their stuff forever. Just don't trust the press in terminals - use the screw downs.

This is my bet too! People don't generally run a 4 wires when they only need 3. Except if they're Garage Journal members.

GJ members would not only run 4 wires, they'd run an extra length of 10-3 and put in a length of conduit as well as plumb it with copper for the eventual air you'll want there... "just in case".

 

[Hot shot]

I did but I didn’t get one for a gfci
Hooked it all up today. Works fine
I did have to do something that some of you might frown on
The white wire wasn’t long enough to reach neutral bar so I had to wire nut a 10” piece
That’s probably against code but oh well I don’t think it will cause any problems

 

[Bert_]

I did have to do something that some of you might frown on
The white wire wasn’t long enough to reach neutral bar so I had to wire nut a 10” piece
That’s probably against code but oh well I don’t think it will cause any problems

Works fine. I would have done the exact same thing.