Transfer switch for 30A dryer outlet

[vinceherman]

I have a question about adding a second outlet on a 30A 240 circuit.

I have a 10-30 outlet in my laundry room. Unused since I have a gas dryer.

That wall is shared with my garage.

I want to put a second 10-30 outlet in my garage for use with my electric vehicle.

I have seen transfer switches for 3 wire applications like this. Would my shopping list be the outlet, a transfer switch and a few feet of 10 gauge wire?

 

[u3b3rg33k]

if you don't use the outlet at all, you'd be better off putting a blank panel in the laundry room and hooking up an outlet in the garage. I believe code says one 220V outlet per circuit for residential.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I have a question about adding a second outlet on a 30A 240 circuit.

I have a 10-30 outlet in my laundry room. Unused since I have a gas dryer.

That wall is shared with my garage.

I want to put a second 10-30 outlet in my garage for use with my electric vehicle.

I have seen transfer switches for 3 wire applications like this. Would my shopping list be the outlet, a transfer switch and a few feet of 10 gauge wire?

Need to backup a little here. does the charger only need 240v? If not then you will need a new circuit IF the 10-30 outlet only has 2 hots and a neutral. There is no ground wire and you cant re-tape a neutral to a ground wire unless you dont care about code.

Also, if this is wire in pipe, then nothing can be retaped.

If outlet is unused, forget about the transfer switch and just extend the circuit by removing the outlet and blanking off the j box.

if you don't use the outlet at all, you'd be better off putting a blank panel in the laundry room and hooking up an outlet in the garage. I believe code says one 220V outlet per circuit for residential.

The NEC does not have such restrictions but the IRBC does.

 

[vinceherman]

I would prefer not to block off the outlet in the laundry room. While I do not intend to use it, who knows what the future holds for me or other owners.
The charger has been tested on the 10-30 outlet. It pulls 24A. It charges my motorcycle in 2 hours rather than the 8(ish) hours when plugged in to the 120 wall outlet. But I had to park in the door to the house and lay the cord across my washer and dryer to make it reach. Great for a proof of concept but I am pretty sure that my wife will not accept this on an ongoing basis.
The charger has multiple adapters for the input side. Wall outlet, 10-30 and 14-50. While it would be nice to have a 14-50 in the garage, there is no more room available. And I already have the 30A circuit right there.
Is a transfer switch a no-no?

 

[joe_padavano]

I would prefer not to block off the outlet in the laundry room. While I do not intend to use it, who knows what the future holds for me or other owners.

It takes about ten minutes to block off the outlet and another ten to reinstall it. This is not a big deal.

 

[Bretny]

Just block the outlet off and run a wire to thr garage. Its not needed now any changing it back is a 10min job.

 

[slow]

Where is your main panel? If in the garage, i would just add a plug under it, and disconnect the "dryer" wire and use the dryer breaker since you say the panel is full.

 

[vinceherman]

The main panel is in the basement. No direct access since the garage is on the far side of the family room which has no basement under it.

I agree that it would be easiest to block. For now, I want to discuss solutions that leave the laundry room receptacle intact.

Can I put in a transfer switch and a second receptacle in the garage?
I cannot post links yet, but on Amazon, search for

Baomain Universal Rotary Changeover Switch SZW26-63/D303.3 with Master Switch Exterior Box LW28-63/4 660V 63A 3 Position 3 Phase

If this is a no-no, tell me. Feel free to suggest other solutions.

 

[vinceherman]

And I will also let SheWhoMustBeObeyed know about the idea of blocking off the existing receptacle.

 

[sberry]

Take the easier way for now,,,, worry about the what if,,, and the future proof if and when it comes. Could easily go to a bunch of work for something never used. If I was really intent on leaving it would consider a new wire if it was humanly possible.

 

[vinceherman]

I like the idea of new wire.
Obstacles:
Running the wire from the basement, somehow across the room on a concrete slab and then to the garage.
200A main box has no more room. Many of the breakers are already double circuits.
Cost.

Leaving the main box issue out of it, what would you expect an electrician to run a 30A line 100' to the garage. half of the distance is in a basement, the rest through existing walls (or however it would need to get to the garage.

My plan A is a $40 transfer switch, a $20 receptacle and a couple 3 feet of wire.

Plan B is to flip the box so that it is through the garage side of the wall.

 

[mm08822]

Plan B. Dont make it harder than needs to be.

 

[teamextreme]

I'm confused on what the function of a transfer switch is for. Transfer switches are used to select between multiple sources of incoming power, ie; generator applications, industrial applications that have 2 utility feeds, etc. Why would it be necessary in this application? I assume you would be using it backwards from the way they are normally used and selecting where the power is being sent, dryer outlet or garage, but 1) what's the point of that? and 2) where are you going to install this switch without extensive wiring mods?

Just wire in a second outlet in the garage and be done with it. You can keep both outlets. As Wylies pointed out it's not an NEC violation, so I wouldn't worry about that. Be forewarned that doing this instead of everyone's recommendation of blanking off the dryer outlet will be a little more difficult since you will have to pigtail #10 wires in the dryer box, which may have limited room. You still haven't confirmed Wylies question in post 3; is this a 3-wire outlet or 4-wire?

 

[vinceherman]

3 wire, Nema 10-30, pre 1996 dryer receptacle.
Yes, I was planning on using the transfer to ensure that both outlets would never be in use at the same time.
If that is not necessary, then I will likely simply add the additional outlet.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

where does the circuit originate?

main service panel or subpanel?

 

[mm08822]

OP, You really think you will ever go back to electric after having a gas dryer?

Your existing receptacle box will surely not have enough room to accommodate another cable and pigtails - all to code.

Do your plan B - just change to a 6-30r.

 

[Bert_]

Yes, I was planning on using the transfer to ensure that both outlets would never be in use at the same time.
If that is not necessary, then I will likely simply add the additional outlet.

Totally unnecessary. This outlet will have full sized wire. If both were used at the same time worst thing that could happen is trip the breaker.

 

[moapys]

@vinceherman - If you're wiring savvy, the BAOMAIN rotary (cam) switch works perfectly, and safely, to select which device has access to your dryer plug. You'll need to arrange "jumpers" in the rotary-switch contacts to move all three conductors between selections, but it works perfectly. I had already selected a Level-2 charger that was previously manually swapped with the Dryer's plug. Since that also had a "dryer"/10-30, the j-boxes on either side of the BAOMAIN simply had their respective 'extension' 10-30's.

It is so simple that even my CPA wife does not mind using the ~$40 toggle (...as long as it is put back to Dryer following charging!).
*Usual disclaimers; be sure that you know what you're doing, use sufficiently large conductors for your ampacity, cinch down connectors tightly, and finally - test continuity rigorously before putting plug-to-socket the first time*

 

[mm08822]

The OP hasn't been seen since 2019. I'd say this thread is done.