This may be a dumb question and I have a feeling that it all depends on what size breaker I have. I was given a 220 window unit AC and dont have a 220 plug wired up in deer camps which leaves me with 2 questions

1 - can i simply use an adapter like this?
2 - Any dangers to using this.

(pretty sure the AC plug is like the one shown on the bottom right.

appreciate it, and pretty much what I was thinking. I do and have done lots of dumb things in my life but messing with electricity is where I draw the line.

Wait a minute.

You can split a single 220 into 2 110v. But there are some considerations. How many wires do you have to work with on that 220? You can NOT make a 110 into a 220.

I'm confused on what the heck you're trying to do. Do you have 220 V service at the Wall and you need to go to a 110 V appliance? Or do you have 110 service at the wall and needed to go to a 220 V appliance?

I feel like I misread your question. If you only have 110 volt service, you cannot use 220 V appliance on it. There's no way to upsize that. It simply will not work. The only caveat to this is if the manual for your new air-conditioning unit has provisions for running on 110 in which case you should follow that and do what it says.

Most window units are 20 Amp 110.
How big of a unit are you trying to run that is 220?

Those NEMA plugs you posted are all 110V plugs but they're variations of 15 Amp and 20Amp. Your AC is using the 20A plug because it needs a dedicated 20A circuit and will likely eventually start a fire on a 15A circuit if it doesn't just trip the breaker.

Yeah, you probably have the plug mixed up and it isn't really on that chart. Those are 110 plugs.

Or, you have a 110v ac and you have the plug correct. Let us know which of these options is correct.

Ill look at my plugs again next time I am at deer camp.

lol - I think of that video every time I mess with something electrical

I'm betting you have a 110v 20a plug like this on the A/C


Most of the outlets in my house are 15a. Find out which breaker runs to that outlet, if it's 20A you're probably safe. Next step is to open up the wall to the outlet (stick a borescope in there) if it's yellow wire it's rated for 20a. Then you'd just need to swap out the outlet style which is a $5 fix.

As stated above, you need to be certain it's a 220v AC. There should be a plate or sticker on the unit that gives the needs. If it works for either 110 or 220, the plate will say this too. Another thing to be certain of is amperage needed.

The 6-20r plug is for 220v. The 5-20r plug beside it is for 110v. If it's 110v, you need a 20a outlet to use it. A 20a outlet and subsequent circuit breaker can usually be installed on what was previously a 15a, but you have to have 12 ga wiring.

If it is 220v, you'll likely spend less money buying 2 110v units than you will adding a 220a outlet.

Use caution...

EVEN if the desired outlet is on a 20A circuit (12 Ga Yellow jacketed Romex) it will generally still use a 15A plug.

Yes, you can swap the plug or use an adapter and it will be perfectly safe. BUT BUT BUT... You should avoid using any other light or plug on that circuit. Builders will use those dedicated 20A plugs on a 20A circuit when that is the ONLY thing on that circuit.

The lamp, the TV, the Starlink router, and your laptop charger will all add to the effect of overloading that circuit.

Kenneth_2003 said:

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Those NEMA plugs you posted are all 110V plugs but they're variations of 15 Amp and 20Amp.

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The 6-15 and 6-20 are 250V meant for 208 or 240, not 120. The first digit is the voltage configuration code, the numbers after the dash are the amps.

The R at the end means it's the receptacle, the hole. The plug is gonna be a mirror image.

If that were wired correctly and you had two receptacles that came from breakers on opposite sides of the bus bar (not the same as the opposite sides of the panel) then it could technically work. Doubtful they'd even need to be 20 amp receptacles based on the typical power draw of a 220V window unit. Only the really big ones pull more than 15 amps per leg. I wouldn't recommend doing this though.

My bad. I knew the 2 digit following the dad was amperage.

Guess I'm forgetting there's still a lot of 3 wire 220 in the wild.

aggieforester05 said:

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If that were wired correctly and you had two receptacles that came from breakers on opposite sides of the bus bar (not the same as the opposite sides of the panel) then it could technically work. Doubtful they'd even need to be 20 amp receptacles based on the typical power draw of a 220V window unit. Only the really big ones pull more than 15 amps per leg. I wouldn't recommend doing this though.

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I think that's for plugging your generator into your wall outlet so you can backfeed the house and plug in a welder in the middle at the same time. Totally safe. Nothing can possibly go wrong.

The old suicide cord saved many hours restringing Christmas lights! Lol.

Here's the plug. Pretty sure we will drop a new breaker and just run a new outlet dedicated to the AC. Better safe than sorry.

That's not a 240v outlet, nor does it match the one you called out in the first post (on the bottom right).

Quote:

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I was given a 220 window unit AC and dont have a 220 plug wired up in deer camps which leaves me with 2 questions

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You need to hire an electrician more than you know at this point but suffice it to say, you need a 220v dedicated circuit to power the AC you have. You'll be better served taking a picture of the AC unit's power cord and plug and posting that so someone can get you squared away.

I can't tell you if your receptical is the right format, but it is NOT the right voltage. It looks the same, but it is not.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-20-Amp-250V-Single-Outlet-Receptacle-White-1-Pack-5821-WS-R52-05821-0WS/100356999?MERCH=REC-_-irgaccessories-_-326946687-_-2-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a

It would almost be cheaper to go buy a brand new 110V window unit of an appropriate capacity.

Yeah show a picture of the window unit's power cord and label with power specs. That receptacle will work for a 110V window unit only, but it is good for that.

Noted on the wrong plug and appreciate the info. It was in the bag that came with the AC. I've excused myself from doing anything further until it's time to lift and place in the window