231 posts, read 669,106 times 1,955 posts, read 7,530,185 times 8,309 posts, read 28,190,502 times Originally Posted by Narfcake Exactly what I was thinking. As a kid I used to call that the "angry" plug. My house was built before central A/C was a consideration and the bedrooms were all retrofitted for window units. At the time window units were usually 240V systems. If this plug is near a window, that's very likely to be why someone would put such a thing in the wall. Switching to 120V probably isn't going to be very difficult or time consuming and if you know much about wiring and applicable codes, you could probably DIY. I'm guessing, however, by the subject of this thread that you would be smart to hire this job out. If the stars are aligned your electrician may be able to leave your existing wires in place, cap one leg of the 240V at the panel and in the wall box and replace the breaker with a 15A. You may get off as lightly as $25 in materials and an hour or two labor.

*EDIT* I just realized that you were renting. Your landlord probably has people he would want to use, have you talked to him or her about this? 8,293 posts, read 18,846,880 times Originally Posted by jmax I can't say for sure, but I'd bet my big fat butt that it's a 220V outlet, and you have a 110V window unit. If my hunch is correct, the bottom line is that you simply can't plug your AC into that outlet. Get an acceptable (heavy) extension cord and run to a different outlet. Bigger window AC units used to be 220V. Imagine how THAT would make your electric meter spin! 26,348 posts, read 69,637,911 times Originally Posted by Omaha Rocks Maybe not much more if the current draw was half as much. 13,975 posts, read 39,423,209 times 10,205 posts, read 33,380,249 times Take a look at the standard wall outlet and figure out if it has a 15 or 20 A breaker, then look at the data plate on your air conditioner - if it draws less than 15 amps, you should be able to use the outlet nearby.

Get a heavy-duty extension cord, 14 gauge wire or better, no longer than needed (don't stretch it tight, but the longer it is the more resistance) If your A/C draws more than 15 but less than 20A, you can use that recepticle *if* it's on a 20A breaker. This might require changing over to a 20A type 110 outlet. This is rare but I am mentioning it to be complete. I agree that the existing outlet is probably a 220/240 type outlet. Actually you can get some good high-efficiency 220 A/C units anymore, or heat pumps. Electrical billing is by watts, so it does not matter if you use 10A at 110 or 5A at 220 - same price. Same power, actually the 220 is a bit superior as there is less "IR" loss in the cabling and the device itself. Surge protection for A/C is not usually needed, a surge protector won't affect breaker tripping. Anyway bottom line is any good hardware or building supply can sell you the extension cord you need to use your existing A/C with the nearby outlet.Look at all the potential fire hazards!

It is wholly unpleasant to suffer through a super-humid, sweaty, sleepless night sans air-conditioning—this is especially true if you live in a small room with a small window, with no cross-ventilation or ceiling fan to properly circulate the air. Still, while a hot night is bad, an apartment fire is worse, and it's important to adhere to some safety rules so you don't reduce your home to a pile of ashes. ac dc power supply militaryFirst and foremost: do not connect your air-conditioner window unit to an extension cord.central air conditioning online quote The FDNY specifically warns against using extension cords or power strips for large electrical appliances like air-conditioners, along with televisions, clothes dryers, refrigerators, and freezers, warning that extension cords are "only for temporary use," and cannot handle as much current as permanent wiring. most quiet ac window unit

Air-conditioner cords are purposefully thick and short because A/Cs use so much electricity—if you hook up your unit to a typical extension cord you pick up at a hardware or drug store, the plug, socket, or entire length of the cord can overheat, causing fires that can occasionally be fatal. Of course, in rentals we're often at the mercy of cost-cutting landlords, and it's not that uncommon to find your only room's outlet is located too far from your room's only window. This is an unfortunate discovery, particularly if it happens at 3 a.m. on an 80-degree night and your A/C is drilled into your window so you end up sleeping with your door wide open and confusing your roommates when they wake up to use the bathroom. There are heavy-duty extension cords that are specifically designed for major appliances like air-conditioners. These should be shorter cords with lower gauges (12 or 14 gauge) and higher amp ratings. If you are in need of one of these, take a photo of the sticker attached to your A/C plug that should list the electricity units the air-conditioner uses, then bring it to a knowledgeable employee at a hardware store and see if there's something they can recommend.

For the sake of yourself and your neighbors, do not try to figure this out yourself, assuming you are not specifically trained in electrical wiring. That is potentially how my apartment building caught fire last year, and I can promise you it is not fun. Another option is to petition your landlord to install another outlet, if you are in a rental. You must go through the landlord to ensure you're not overloading the wiring, which can cause an electrical fire. He or she might say no, but you can bring up the safety issue and offer to split or front the cost to pay for the sockets. There are also a number of ways to stay cool without an air-conditioner. You can use a properly-rated extension cord for a window fan, or purchase a few standing fans and place them around your room strategically so you can circulate the air. Make sure you're sleeping on all-cotton sheets, keep your blinds closed, and buy this weird cooling pillow if you must. Sweat out the booze. Remember that if you do have an air-conditioner (that's plugged properly into a wall), it is imperative that you install it in your window correctly, lest you kill an unsuspecting person on the sidewalk below.