The job starts by installing the outlet box and stripping the 10/4 cable containing four colored wires. The white one goes into the neutral slot of the screw while the green one goes into the grounding. The red and the black ones are fed into the unlabeled slots.
Wiring a breaker box for a 220V outlet is a pretty complicated task. There is danger involved and it is not a job for the inexperienced. Therefore, consult an expert electrician to address such an issue.
How to Wire a Breaker Box for 220V
This section will cover the details of wiring a breaker box for a 220V outlet with a step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Turn Off the Main Power
Find the main circuit breaker box in your home and flip it to turn off the power to your home. This is the first step to go through before starting any kind of electrical activity.
Step 2: Install the Outlet Box
The next thing to do is to drill a hole in the wall to install the 220 V outlet. Also, drill a hole near the circuit breaker box so that you can run the cable to it. Then determine the shortest route from that hole to the main circuit breaker box in your home.
Step 3: Prepare the Cable
Cut a 10/4 cable that has red, white, black, and green wires inside. Under the measurement done in the previous step, stretch out the cable with an extra 2-3 feet exposed.
Step 4: Install Electrical Conduit
As the wires for 220V lines cannot be exposed due to the risk of getting damaged, you have to install an electrical conduit. Install the conduit between the breaker box and the hole you previously drilled near it.
Step 5: Run the Cable Between the Outlet and the Breaker Box
Now use fish tape to hook on the end of the cable and pull the wires through the walls. The fish tape should be fed into the hole near the circuit breaker box and go toward the hole made for the outlet box.
Once done, you have to screw the outlet box into the wall. You have to slide 30 cm of the 10/4 cable through the back hole of the outlet box.
Step 6: Strip the Insulation Off the Ends of Each Wire
Use a wire stripper to remove about 30 cm of outer coating from the cable and expose the wires inside. Then strip ½ in of insulation off the ends of each exposed wire.
Step 7: Feed the Wires into the Slots Accordingly
The 220V outlet will show you the labeled screws on its back where the wires are supposed to go into. Feed the white wire into the slot under the screw labeled as “Neutral”. Similarly, the green wire should be fed into the slot of the “Ground” screw.
As for the remaining wires, they will go into the hot ports on the back of the outlet. That means the red and black wires should be put into the slot of the unlabeled screws. Use a screwdriver to push the outlet in line with the wires to screw them all together in place.
Step 8: Install the Double Pole Breaker
The last step is to install a 30 amp double-pole breaker and connect it to power. Feed the 4 wires from the 10/4 cable into the breaker box and tighten the screws. The double-pole breaker will allow you to run twice as the power as compared to a standard 15 amp single pole breaker.
Put the ends of the black and the red wire in the two ports of the breaker. Then locate the grounding bar and wrap the ends of green and white wires around the screws. Put the cover back on to complete the installation and turn the main power back on.
Conclusion
Running wires into the breaker box for a 200V outlet is a task that takes significant skill and experience. Otherwise, it can lead to serious injury or death. Always make sure you are properly equipped and abide by the safety precautions.
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