These outlets are the ones you’re most likely to have in your house.
Ok, so let’s talk about the types of outlets you’ll find in your house. For the most part, you are going to see 120 volts, 15 amp, and 20 amp. And 220 2-wire, 3-wire, and four-wire types.
Please remember not all 220-volt outlets use a neutral (white) wire. To give you a general idea, let’s say you just bought an air compressor from Home Depot. It requires 220 volts but the plug only has three prongs. You’ll have the two that look alike and will be the two separate hots and the other round looking on would be the ground. And of course, more than likely it would be 20 amp.
220 volts 20 amps
This is a 220v 20 amp outlet as shown in the how-to 220-volt outlet video likely to be used for larger power tools in your garage or shop or perhaps a wall air conditioner.
220 volts 30 amps
Wire Connections for X Y W 240 Volt Receptacle Dryer Outlets The Black Wire attaches to Outlet Terminal X The Red Wire attaches to Outlet Terminal Y The White Neutral or Green wire or Ground wire attaches to Outlet Terminal W
Commonly known as a dryer outlet. Of course, used for a clothes dryer. This would be used in a wall box with a cover plate (flush mount)
220 volt 50 amp outlets
In a house, these would be considered the big boys. You’ll find one of these in newer homes for a stove-oven combo. This is a 4-wire outlet. See my video on how to install one of these. This is a 50 amp 220 4 wire. Better known as a stove or oven outlet Keep in mind, although you might have an oven, dryer, stove, or whatever. It may not have an outlet at all. It could be hard-wired into the appliance. And that’s fine, lots of bigger commercial appliances are known to be wired that way. Tip… Red is hot (110 volts), and black is also hot (110 volts) = 220 volts. White is neutral and is the returned path back to the transformer on the road. The ground is just that. Ground to each and is always used on anything electric. Unless of course, your house is very old in which case should be updated just for pure safety.
Surface Mount 220v outlet
This is a surface mount 220v outlet. You would find these in older homes where the installation came after the house was built.
3 wire stove receptacle
Click on the below images to make them bigger
Wire Size Calculator
Use this calculator to help you determine what size wire to use.
Comments ( 88 )
The picture that accompanies the link to this article does not appear anywhere in the article. It had an outlet like mine that I am trying to find out more about, but alas there was no info on the type of outlet depicted in the link. Where do they pull these images from if not the article itself?!
All updated now. Thanks again.
I did not realize that but rest assure I’m working on that right now. And thank you so much for letting me know.
Looking for a receptacle for a new AC. 25amp 240 avc. 2 blade W a round ground. Where can I pick one up at?
Home Depot or any electrical supply.
Don’t know if anyone is monitoring this website, but I would like to know WHICH 220v plug configuration to install in my garage, not knowing what receptacle I will need in the future?
This all depends on what you’re intending to hook up.
very good tec. reading n videos keep up t good imformation. linda
Thank you very much.
I have a generator with a NEMA L14-30-R 30A 125/250volt receptacle and it has 4 curved plugs on it and one is “L” shaped I want to know if I can use a 220amp 20volt like the first picture here. I could not find a picture of the 125/250v 4 plug in any of the NEMA straight blade charts on here. I went to the NEMA site and found it on the curved blades charts but it has no information on whether I can change this to the 220v 20amp straight receptacle.
I have pictures but I don’t know how to put them on here.
Thank you for any help!
I have an oven (not too old: 15 years old) which has the same plug as the one that fits into the 220volt 50 amp outlet, but the house is old and I bet that doesn’t have 4 wires. At the wall, I have an outlet similar to the one listed under the 220 volt 30 amp.
Can I change either the outlet or the plug to match?
No, you’ll need either a 40 or 50 wire and plug. Or just hard wire to the stove. It’s the wire and the breaker you’ll want to pay attention to.
Just a question of terminology. I have an extension cord. One end–the plug–is OK. The other end (into which one would insert a plug) is damaged and needs to be replaced. But for the life of me I cannot figure out what that item is called. Receptacle, outlet, socket? Please tell me what to call it.
That would be the female end.
I was wondering if I could use a 20a 125v outlet for 220v? The max amps I would be running would be 7.5 amps. The problem I have is the male plug on the cord I’m using, the equipment can run on 220v or 110v, the equipment I’m using runs more efficiently on 220v.
Thanks,
A
I understand what you’re saying, but the wiring configuration is very different between the two. So no. You’ll want to change both the outlet and plug for 220 volts.
hello great site, I have a 60 gal air compressor that takes 220v No plug, it was hard wired in. I want to use my generator to power it. my generator has a 120/240 outlet NEMA L14-20R type receptacle on it any ideas of the best way to do this?
I think you would like this http://amzn.to/2BQB8m7
I hope you can help. I just bought a 60 gallon air compressor which has a plug that is either Nema 10-20 or Nema 10-50. The outlet in my building is a Nema 6-50. Is there an adapter that will allow me to plug in my air compressor without rewiring?
No not that I know about. I would just change the outlet really.