Replacing double pole breaker with two single pole

6 years ago

I have a 30 amp double pole breaker leading via 10 gauge wire to a single electric box where our old hot water heater was. I'd like to put an electric outlet there. I'm comfortable replacing the breaker and putting in a single, my question is what do I do with the other wire from the double pole? Is it okay to cap this wire and leaving hanging?

Also, is it safe to connect a small bit of 12 gauge wire from the 10 gauge to the outlet inside the outlet box?

Featured Answer

DavidR

6 years ago

No need for a neutral with a normal 240 volt water heater. Re-identify the white wire with black or red paint or tape. In this case it would need to be changed back to white and used as the neutral. At the panel, move the white from the other breaker pole to the neutral bar.

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Comments (12)

klem1
6 years ago
To miniumnmize possibility of confusion down the road,I would cap wire in both breaker box and junction box. Even if it's breaked at 20 amps,use 10ga to extend the circuit.
Matt Irwin thanked klem1
Ron Natalie
6 years ago
Legally, you can put a 20A breaker in and use 12g later in the circuit, but I agree with Klem, it'd be less confusing to use a piece of 10g in case someone decides to try to revert this circuit to a 30A breaker.

Yes, it's fine to abandon this in place as you describe.
Matt Irwin thanked Ron Natalie
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Matt Irwin
Original Author
6 years ago
The only reason I want to use the 12 is because the 10 doesn't want to fit on the outlet. So I'd connect the 10 to the 12 then the 12 to the outlet. Unless there is another option.
DavidR
6 years ago
Try a higher quality receptacle.
Matt Irwin thanked DavidR
mtvhike
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
How many conductors are going to the old water heater location? Could be two (illegal now), three (two hot and one ground), or 4 (two hot, one neutral, and one ground).
Matt Irwin thanked mtvhike
Matt Irwin
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks, David, one of those simple things I didn't think about. Duh.

There are three conductors.
mtvhike
6 years ago
If that's including ground, then there cannot be a neutral. Can even a higher quality receptacle accept #10 wire? Are you planning to put the new 110 volt receptacle in a new box, or repurpose the old one?
Matt Irwin
Original Author
6 years ago
There's a hot, a neutral, and a ground. I don't know if any outlet will take a 10. I'm just going to bring a bit with me to the store. There was no outlet it was wired directly into the heater.
mtvhike
6 years ago
I was assuming it was a 240 volt heater, which would have 2 hots and (perhaps) no neutral. It sounds as if you have a 120 volt heater, which would have 1 hot and 1 neutral (and 1 ground). You say it was wired directly into the heater. Is there a junction box nearby?
dennisgli
6 years ago
If was a 120 volt water heater why was there a double pole breaker???
Matt Irwin thanked dennisgli
Matt Irwin
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
So, I think it's clear I was mistaken about how the 240 and the 120 work. I did a little more homework after reading DavidR's last post and got it, I put the white on the bus bar and the black in the new breaker. It took some swearing and bending, but I did get the 10 wires on the receptacle firmly. Got it all put back together and it works!

Was pretty nervous, it being my first time in the panel, but it went so smoothly. The hardest part of this whole thing was getting the panel cover back on!

Thanks to you all, for helping me with a new skill!