Replace 220 V single outlet with 125 V double outlet on 40A circuit

[dclynds]

Hi all. The fridge in my garage just today started tripping the GFCI outlet it has been plugged into for about a year. I believe the fridge is starting to die, but I may be able to get some more life out of it connected to a regular outlet. Next to the GFCI outlet is a single 220V outlet that is on its own 40A circuit (two 20A breakers connected), which I have not used in the 10 years that I've lived here. I believe the 220 V outlet is the only thing on the circuit and was used by the previous homeowner for a table saw. My question is: Are there any dangers in replacing the single 220V outlet with a standard 125V double non-GFCI outlet which I would then use to power the refrigerator, which would be the only thing on the circuit? Is there something I should know about putting a 15A outlet on a 40A circuit so that it is the only thing on the circuit?

Thanks.

 

[Eddie_T]

It's a 20 A circuit just two legs of a 240 V circuit. You need to reconnect the wire so that you're only using one breaker with one hot and a neutral to the 120 V outlet. Can the breakers be separated so they don't trip together? Many of us have 15 A receptacles on 20 A breakers.

 

[dclynds]

It's a 20 A circuit just two legs of a 240 V circuit. You need to reconnect the wire so that you're only using one breaker with one hot and a neutral to the 120 V outlet. Can the breakers be separated so they don't trip together? Many of us have 15 A receptacles on 20 A breakers.

Thanks Eddie_T. I watched a YT video and learned more about it. I see what you are saying and yes, I have several single spares at the bottom of my panel that I could swap out for the dual breaker. I will also disconnect the proper wire and connect it to the neutral bar. All with the main breaker off, of course. Appreciate the help!

 

[Eddie_T]

I had a PTHP that started tripping the GFCI plug breaker (on the cord). I just disconnected the green wire and it quit. I did check the chassis for stray voltage and found none. I don't understand what was going on as GFCI breakers don't measure current to ground though I didn't know that at the time.

 

[Sparky617]

Sometime GFCI breakers wear out and a replacement might work. Is the circuit dedicated to the fridge?

 

[bud16415]

By code in a garage I believe GFCI is required. If you plan on going around that why not just take the GFCI in question out and replace it with a normal non-GFCI outlet. That would leave your 240V circuit for future use like maybe a EV charging station or a table saw, welder etc.

 

[Sparky617]

When my house was built in 1999 they installed a single (not a duplex) outlet in the garage for a freezer. It is not GFCI protected. I believe at some point they changed the code to require GFCIs on all garage circuits. I'm with Bud though, if swapping the GFCI outlet with a new one doesn't fix it, put in a regular outlet until you replace that fridge. Does the GFCI trip for anything else?

 

[Hamberg]

@bud16415 is correct - I think it's NEC 210.8. Before I'd mess with the 220v, I'd just replace the GFCI with a duplex - either way you do it will be (in theory) out of compliance but that would be the easiest.

Plus, hopefully its a 20A circuit (if it's yellow NM cable) and if so, you can use a 20A duplex outlet which may buy you some additional time if the fridge's compressor is heading south

 

[dclynds]

Hi All. Just an update to close out this thread: I wanted the fridge isolated to its own 20A circuit, so I swapped out the double-pull breaker with two single 20A breakers. I rewrapped one of the two hot wires from the original 240V circuit in white tape and connected it to the neutral bus bar. Then I popped out the double-pull and replaced it with two single breakers: one breaker connected to the remaining black wire from the original 240V circuit and the other breaker not connected to any wire (just seated there as a spare to fill the gap). Then I swapped out the 240V outlet with a 120V duplex outlet, turned on the main breaker, and voila, a dedicated circuit for my garage fridge. If I ever have need for the 240V outlet in the future, I know how to revert back to it. Thank you all for the advice, suggestions, and tips. Really nice to have this community as a resource.