220v 6amp 1250 w A/C plug into 240v 40a circuit?

[gastonbuffet]

can it be done???
here's the story.
i'm spliting from a range outlet( 240v 40 amp breaker)using 12 gauge wire 20 feet away and i'm planning to connect a 220 volt 6 amp A/C(1250 watts aprox). I'm concerned.
1) i can't get a smaller breaker cause i'm still going to use the range(not at the same time).
2) I didn't want to upgrade the panel(no more slots) because this is for two months only(rental)
3)so the question stands still, can it be done? shall i plug away or should i be comitted?
ps1: sorry if this is too dumb a question, never really had electrical skills.
ps2: hello everybody, i'm a newby from Canada.

[irregularjoe]

Can it be done? Sure.
Should you do it? No.
But if you insist, at least step down the circuit. Put a 2 space 30 amp indoor sub panel at the location of the range plug. ie: pigtail it from the range plug. Then install a 20 amp breaker in the sub panel and use your #12 wire from there.
Of course this is all against code and potentially quite unsafe. But it will work.

Did you ever see OHM'S mother in LAW?...... SHOCKING!

[gastonbuffet]

THANKS!!!!
i've borrowed a basic electrical book yesterday, and i left a bookmark in "installing a subpanel", so even if i lack common sense, i' ve got instincts (self preservation at least). Electricity is fascinating! . Now that i know that 1)it can be done and 2) got an idea of what to do; i think i'm gonna read until i evacuate all the questions that i already have, BUT

I've was looking at my main panel, and the main feeder breaker is not there?????? it is not. is this normal? according to the electrical book is not. if i want lights out i have to turn off all the breakers one by one. isn't this a code violation also?

thanks again for your reply irreg. joe. i don't know what or who could have gone dead had i plugged away.

ps.: i know i've installing the subpanel from the range outlet, i was just looking at the main panel.

[irregularjoe]

A lot of older houses here in the u.s. don't have main breakers. They just have the line cables connected directly to the panel lugs. Apparently Canada is the same. There is a way to fix this if you have an extra 2 spaces in the main panel. You have to remove the meter (because without a main breaker that's the only way to disconnect the power to the panel) and then install a 2 pole breaker in the existing spaces on the panel. Remove the line cables ( the two hot cables from the meter) from the main lugs and connect them to the new breaker. The new breaker now is the main. This only works on systems up to 150 amps due to the size of the available breakers. IE: the new breaker has to fit into an existing two spaces. There are several problems that will prevent you from doing this . One, obviously is that you have to have two full size spaces available. Another is that you have to have enough slack on the main line cables to be able to move them around. You don't want to splice into then to extend them.
None of this is mandatory. I've worked on many houses that don't have a main breaker. But if you want to add one, that's how to do it, short of replacing the panel.

Post back if you need help with the indoor sub panel.
Joe

Did you ever see OHM'S mother in LAW?...... SHOCKING!

[paintdglas]

And for a third thing...the NEC disallows back fed mains unless they are screwed in place.Meaning - designed that way. Otherwise the large size conductors have the potential to dislodge the "main" from seating properly on the buss bars.
I think if I were to have the meter pulled, I would install a Safety switch ahead of the service panel sized to the service panel. Then feed the service panel from the switch thereby creating a main shut off.
Ideas?

[Rewired]

quote:Originally posted by paintdglas

And for a third thing...the NEC disallows back fed mains unless they are screwed in place.Meaning - designed that way. Otherwise the large size conductors have the potential to dislodge the "main" from seating properly on the buss bars.
I think if I were to have the meter pulled, I would install a Safety switch ahead of the service panel sized to the service panel. Then feed the service panel from the switch thereby creating a main shut off.
Ideas?

I was just wondering how old this place is?? It USED to be long ago here in Canada that if there were more than "six operations" (turning off 6 breakers or removing 6 fuses) to turn off power to a dwelling you needed a main disconnect of some sort. For 6 and under you didn't... I have only seen something like that in a house ONCE, usually that kind of thing is found in apartment buildings.. Is it possible there is already a main disconnect out of sight somewhere else or even possibly part of the meter socket itself? I know thats rare but i have seen it up here on occasion!