Can an electric stove plug be converted to a regular 120V outlet and if so how?

The typical electric stove (range) operates on a plug that supplies 220 volts AC to the stove. Some parts of the stove operate on 110 volts AC. The oven light for instance. The standard range plug consist of two separate 110 volt lines, which add up to 220 volts. It also has a third line that is referred to as the "common" line. It won't work without it. You could open the plug, attach a wire to one of the 110 volt lines and another from the common to a standard 110 volt plug. This however is dangerous and you should be well aware of what you are doing. Most modern wiring also has another wire which is usually a bare conductor which is called a "ground", therefore the 3 prongs on a standard 110 volt plug. It is safest to have the third wire in place otherwise electric shock and injury may occur. Kill the power before attempting any of the above as electricity properly grounded through you could kill you. The heating elements on the stove will not work on 110 volts so if you are looking to save power you are right because it won't use any. The stove simply will not work, which would be a savings.

For safety, you will also need to disconnect the two stove conductors at the distribution panel breaker and replace it with a 15-Amp or 20-Amp breaker to protect the 110 outlet and any devices plugged into it.

With some effort, you could

First, I assume you're comfortable working around electrical panels. If you're not, PLEASE get an electrician to do this!

There are two things that really need to be done to make this work.

First is at the panel. Right now, there is a double-pole 50-amp breaker serving that outlet. It is connected to the outlet with 6/3 WG wire--6 gauge, 3 conductors and a ground. No 110-volt outlet in the world can deal with 50 amps of current. Turn off the main breaker, open your panel and replace that 50-amp double-pole breaker with two 20-amp single breakers. Close up the panel, and you're done.

Next is at the outlet. You will need: two 20-amp duplex receptacles, the deepest two-gang old work box they've got at the store, some nice fat wire nuts, a two-gang cover plate, and some 10-gauge solid wire: a foot of red, a foot of black, two feet of white and two feet of uninsulated. You have to pigtail 10AWG (American Wire Gauge--how solid wire is sized) to the present 6AWG because 6AWG won't fit in a 20-amp receptacle. You have to twist the wires together to make the connections, and there's only one good way to do it--hold two wires parallel to each other, lock them together with vise grips and twist them with another pair of pliers. Anyway, put single pigtails on the red and black, and double pigtails on the white and bare. Hook them to your receptacles and seal the box up.

You now have a pair of outlets that won't ever give you trouble.

First answer by Al. Last edit by Jmowreader. Contributor trust: 74 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 37 [recommend question]