converting a 110 outlet to 220

[fluketamer]

Are you sure that outlet is not being powered by the 20 breaker?
View attachment 834476

It's easy enough to figure out. Flip the 15amp double pole breaker off and then put a voltage tester into the slots on the receptacle. If it's 0 volts, then flip the breaker on and test for 240v at the receptacle.

1. If it turns out that receptacle (which is a 6-20R) is really on the 15 amp breaker, it would be best to have the receptacle changed out to a 6-15R because you definitely don't want a 20amp receptacle on a 15 amp breaker because it would be safe to assume the wiring in the wall is only rated for 15amps.

From that point, you'd just cut the plug off the Brewzilla and wire on a 5-15P plug.

i got everything up until the 5-15 plug part.
i would change the bz to a 5-15 plug -----and also have to change the wall outlet to a 5-15 r correct?

and if the 20 amp is on the outlet then the outlet could just be swapped for a 5-15 outlet?

i would still get a guy to do it but it sounds like its prolly not a very expensive job.

It's already been determined there is no necessity to change the outlet based on Code.

Further, given the load of topic is ~11A, there isn't any particular reason to mess with it at all even presuming the breaker and wiring is for 15A.

The only reason to change anything there, again presuming it's on the 15A breaker, is if you plan to use a bigger load.

it seems like this is what whoaru is saying. like its posssible i just need to change the recepticle.
and as bobby said the bz plug

and before i get thinking this is cheap and easy, is there any extension cord option (like if i change to 5-15 p) or my only option is to get a guy to wire an outlet where i want to brew?

 

[Bobby_M]

i got everything up until the 5-15 plug part.
i would change the bz to a 5-15 plug -----and also have to change the wall outlet to a 5-15 r correct?

and if the 20 amp is on the outlet then the outlet could just be swapped for a 5-15 outlet?

i would still get a guy to do it but it sounds like its prolly not a very expensive job.



it seems like this is what whoaru is saying. like its posssible i just need to change the recepticle.
and as bobby said the bz plug

You can leave the outlet alone so you have two choices. You can either replace the Brewzilla with a 6-15P or a 6-20P plug. Either of those will fit into your current outlet.

The other option is to buy either a (6-15P or 6-20P) to 6-30R adapter. This is definitely the more expensive route.

How far away would you want to brew? You can also make up a longer cable version of the above.

 

[whoaru99]

and if the 20 amp is on the outlet then the outlet could just be swapped for a 5-15 outlet?

The 6-20 receptacle accepts either 6-20 or 6-15 plug.

A 5-15 receptacle is for 120V circuits, not 240.

It's not necessary to change anything in the breaker box, wiring, or outlet if you are talking the 11A load of the BrewZilla.

and before i get thinking this is cheap and easy, is there any extension cord option (like if i change to 5-15 p) or my only option is to get a guy to wire an outlet where i want to brew

An extension cord is a consideration. How far from the outlet to where you want to brew?

You'd have to consider the cost of the cord and some minor inconvenience to roll it out every time vs the cost to have a new circuit put where you'd rather have it.

 

[whoaru99]

I regularly see used extension cords or suitable cable to make extension cords on Marketplace and Craigslist for materially less than buying a new cord.

You could put a 6-15 or 6-20 plug on one end and the 6-30 receptacle on the other end and not have to change anything on the wall or the BrewZilla. Basically, it would be an adapter like Bobby showed, but longer.

 

[shoengine]

You can leave the outlet alone so you have two choices. You can either replace the Brewzilla with a 6-15P or a 6-20P plug. Either of those will fit into your current outlet.

The other option is to buy either a (6-15P or 6-20P) to 6-30R adapter. This is definitely the more expensive route.
View attachment 834479

How far away would you want to brew? You can also make up a longer cable version of the above.

This last question is very important.

 

[fluketamer]

you guys are awesome

im also thinking the cord could get me to the kitchen and to the yard ( the two places i want to brew) and may offset wiring two outlets far away from the source.

id prolly need hundred feet to make me happy ..


thanks for all this help i think im closer to my new electric brewery than i thought

 

[fluketamer]

"You could put a 6-15 or 6-20 plug on one end and the 6-30 receptacle on the other end and not have to change anything on the wall or the BrewZilla."


-this is really exactly what i wanted to hear

 

[shoengine]

My terrible math shows you can probably get away with it. 11 amps on a 120v circuit is 1320 watts. Max watts on a 15A branch circuit with 20% overhead is 1440. Voltage drop over 100 ft is about 5%, but you're right up against that limit.

edit: ignore this. Just saw that this is a 240 15A circuit. That is a tiny panel.

 

[whoaru99]

My terrible math shows you can probably get away with it. 11 amps on a 120v circuit is 1320 watts. Max watts on a 15A branch circuit with 20% overhead is 1440. Voltage drop over 100 ft is about 5%, but you're right up against that limit.

edit: ignore this. Just saw that this is a 240 15A circuit. That is a tiny panel.

Yeah, at 240V a 14ga cord seems like it would work OK. More or less 1/2 the voltage drop so ~2.5% which is not unreasonable. 12ga would be less but, frankly, I think the higher cost probably doesn't justify a couple volts difference. But, might depend on what deal one can find. Other than lugging it around and cost, bigger in this regard (to a point) is fine.

I have about 100ft of 2/4 cable I bought to make an extension cord but it's so big and heavy it's impractical for why I wanted it. It's a big effort just to move it myself at around 130lbs of cable. It sits on a spool under the bench gathering dust. I should look into the copper value. LOL. The 2ga wire is so fat it doesn't even fit the 50A receptacle and plug terminals, and the overall diameter so big it doesn't fit the cable/strain relief clamps. I think it's roughly 1.25" OD for the cable.

 

[fluketamer]

Yeah, at 240V a 14ga cord seems like it would work OK. More or less 1/2 the voltage drop so ~2.5% which is not unreasonable. 12ga would be less but, frankly, I think the higher cost probably doesn't justify a couple volts difference. But, might depend on what deal one can find.

that part i understood

 

[fluketamer]

I regularly see used extension cords or suitable cable to make extension cords on Marketplace and Craigslist for materially less than buying a new cord.

You could put a 6-15 or 6-20 plug on one end and the 6-30 receptacle on the other end and not have to change anything on the wall or the BrewZilla. Basically, it would be an adapter like Bobby showed, but longer.

why do i need 6-30 adaptor wont this 6-15 plug also fit in my recepticle like bobby said.


this is the bz plug. it looks like a 6-15 and a

100 ft. SJTW 12/3 20 Amp 250-Volt NEMA 6-15 Indoor/Outdoor​

(thats very expensive)

why would i need the adaptor this looks like it fits the bz and my wall outlet


thanks everyone this is like electricity 101 for me

 

[mac_1103]

We were talking earlier about the Brewzilla having a 6-30 plug on it. If it's got a 6-15P then you don't need the adapter. I think you're also going to want GFCI, which will make that extension cord even more expensive.

 

[fluketamer]

this pic is from the morebeer website for the bz 220 . it looks like a 6-15 can anyone confirm this ?
cause the poster said you need a 6-30 receptacle

but from what ive gathered from the thread the 6-15 p will fit in either 6-15 or 6-30 receptacle .
sorry for the redundancy

and yes gcfi 100 ft 240 volt 6-15 cord is not cheap. but i live in new york minimum 100$ to get an electrician in the house.

but i think i saw the weight of the extension cord was less than 20 lbs

edit - not sure they make a 6-15 gcfi extension - i cant seem to find one

 

[whoaru99]

@fluketamer

The BZ literature says this -

• NEMA 6-30R plug

A 6-30 plug looks similar to a 6-15 plug except it's physically larger and won't plug into a 6-15 receptacle.

 

[whoaru99]

The flat blades on a 6-15 are ~1/4" wide.

The flat blades on a 6-30 are ~1/2" wide.

What do they measure on the BrewZilla you have?

 

[doug293cz]

@fluketamer

The BZ literature says this -

• NEMA 6-30R plug

A 6-30 plug looks like a 6-15 plug except it's physically larger and won't plug into a 6-15 receptacle.

Here's the official drawings showing the difference between a 6-30 and 6-15:

Brew on

 

[whoaru99]

If I were going to go the extension cord route, I would look for a 100ft 14 or 12ga cord with the standard 5-15 or 5-20 connectors. I've seen some on Amazon for ~$50.

Then, I would get a 6-15 or 6-20 plug and a 6-30 receptacle (probably need a handy box too, 6-30R cord caps don't seem too common).

Then, cut the 5--15 or 5-20 ends off the cord and install the 6-15 / 6-20 and 6-30.

Should be able to do all that under $100, which would be a fraction of the cost to have an electrician install a new circuit.

If you want to add GFI it could be a sizable cost adder unless, again, you find a deal on something.

 

[mac_1103]

Black Friday deals at Amazon:

100 foot 12g 15a extension cord $50
6-30R outlet box $21

6-15 plugs can be found for under $10.

edit - an inline 240v gfci will cost you more than all of that put together.

 

[fluketamer]

thanks everyone its all clear to me now actually......that i need an electrician

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

thanks everyone its all clear to me now actually......that i need an electrician

Glad you're looking at it that way and not trying to piece something together.

You did get some good background though.

 

[mac_1103]

You did get some good background though.

Which hopefully will help you avoid getting ripped off. Like I said way upthread, this isn't a very complicated job. Shouldn't break the bank even in NYC.

 

[whoaru99]

thanks everyone its all clear to me now actually......that i need an electrician

You're going to get a quote for a new circuit in the location you most want it?

 

[fluketamer]

You're going to get a quote for a new circuit in the location you most want it?

exactly i think actually two outlets.

one in the kitchen and one in the garage

so i can brew outside in the summer

i dont see how it could ever hurt to have a few 220 outlets.

if this gets outrageous i can always stick to a 110 bz for now and maybe a heat stick to get it up to boil quicker or just drink more homebrew during the wait time. lol

i found some decent reviews of the 110 and people say they are making plenty of great beer with it.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Yes, you won't go wrong having a few 240vac spots to power your needs. Wish I had planned better for my garage.

Good luck and happy brewing!

 

[mac_1103]

i think actually two outlets

That makes it a bit more complicated. There's no space for another 220V breaker in that panel, so you can't have two dedicated 15 or 20 amp circuits. I guess a higher amp circuit with two outlets would be a possibility, but that's beyond my experience (either DIY or hiring a pro).

 

[day_trippr]

It's actually acceptable to have two outlets at the rated breaker amperage on the same branch. I have a 240V 40A breaker servicing a pair of 40A receptacles for my welder - one in the garage near the load center and the other in my shop about 50 feet away...

Cheers!

 

[whoaru99]

exactly i think actually two outlets.

Certainly wouldn't argue with the intent, but I'd probably be sitting down when you get the quote.

Hopefully wrong about that.

Convenience does have a lot of value though; especially the older you get LOL.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

This is where an electrician can help you with your plan and to make sure it meets code. As Day Tripper has mentioned it might be possible to have a second outlet downstream of the first. Again this is a code thing and it might be different in your area. The National Electric Code makes the rules but areas around the country might have stricter guidelines. An electrician will know what's required. It's about safety for you and your family.

I'm not an electrician but in my job I worked on electrical systems.

 

[beren]

It's actually acceptable to have two outlets at the rated breaker amperage on the same branch. I have a 240V 40A breaker servicing a pair of 40A receptacles for my welder - one in the garage near the load center and the other in my shop about 50 feet away...

Cheers!

Sure is. Every home has 15A or 20A branch circuits and 15 or 20A receptacles. Sometimes many of them.

 

[mac_1103]

Every home has 15A or 20A branch circuits and 15 or 20A receptacles. Sometimes many of them.

Well yeah, but I just wasn't sure that code was the same for 240V circuits. I don't think I've ever actually laid eyes on a 240V circuit with multiple outlets.