Wiring 240V lighting using 120V receptacles

[Guest]

I live alone,and I'm not advising anyone to do what I did with my lighting,this is just so you know it can be done and be electrically safe.When I got my new fixtures,I really didnt want to cut the plugs off to put on new 240V plugs for a few reasons one being I may want to use them for 120V again,another re4ason is the weakest part of any electrical system is where wires are spliced to a device or joined together.First I rewired my fixture for 240V,this consisted of switching 1 wire,the 120V lead for the 240V.the common remains.Now that I had my fixture wired for 240V,I wired a commercial grade 120V receptacle unto the circuit.Just put 1 hot on 1 side and the other hot on the other side and wire the ground of course.The only drawback in doing it this way is if you forget and plug in a 120V device or someone else does,thats why this isnt good for everyone and remember.this is for your info only,I'm not suggesting you do it so lay off flamers!My fixtures have been wired this way for well over 3 years now with zero problems.The fact is the voltage ratings for receptacles only are significant in that there are different configurations for different voltages so there is no confusion,its the amperage ratings that count and your amperage is actually halved on a 240V circuit.I personally just found it to be a better idea doing it this way and avoiding another splice and expensive 240V devices

 

[MTF-Sandman]

Nice point Skeletor! Some folks that do this choose an "odd" colored 120v recepticle (orange or gray) when wiring them 240v so that they aren't confused for 120v outlets...definitely not a problem in your case since you're living solo.

I know orange outlets are supposed to be for isolated ground outlets...does it violate NEC code to use them without an isolated ground?

 

[Guest]

Not that I know of,you could always put those plastic child-proof thingies in all the unused outlets to be safe

 

[Guest]

Damn I'm pleasently surprised I usually have to wear armor for protection when I post this info.because I've had people say its unsafe,I just want people to know it is an option for them and its not dangerous in the slightest.I like the fact if I ever need to go 120V again I only have to switch 1 wire in the fixture and I'm done.Just dont plug your vacuum cleaner in like I did some time ago,you should have heard that motor scream lol!

 

[stonewall]

sounds dangerous to me, you just said so yourself too.

 

[Guest]

i wouldn't recommend that at all. but if you're the only one that would possibly use it and not forget about it then so be it. i would def. mark the device cuz i forget EVERYTHING!!!

 

[Guest]

Its not electrically dangerous because there isnt a bit of differnce mechanically between a 120V receptacle and a 240V receptacle,its totally in the configuration of the blades.The danger is in being a stoner and plugging a 120V device in lol like I did once.Its been well over 3 years now I think if I were going to have a problem electrically it would have surfaced by now.I just really didnt see the necessity in cutting up my new fixture since I'm the only one that will be in there and the only one in the house.I can see where this might come in useful sometime to someoneEDIT Does this mean you dont want to hire me now thordee lol?

 

[ethereal]

i wouldnt advise it on the simple notion that some idiot is goin to try this--
with a plug he cut off a lamp he found in Granny's basement circa 1947

 

[Guest]

My first sentence says "I'm not advising anyone to do their lights the way I did",the reason for the thread is it will help someone, sometime out there the way it helped me when my boss pointed it out to me