How to Wire a 220V Pigtail

Published: Dec 3, 2010
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read
  1. Turn off the power to the electrical circuit in the circuit breaker panel.

  2. Feed each of the electrical cables you want to pigtail together into the electrical junction box. One cable will come from the circuit breaker panel, and the other cables will come from individual appliances or outlets that you want to power off the same circuit. Secure the cables to the electrical box with electrical connectors.

  3. Strip the outer sheathing off of each electrical cable to reveal the individual wires inside. Strip each of these wires to expose the copper. Since you are dealing with 220 volts, each cable should have four wires: black, red, white and bare. The black and red wires are hot, the white is neutral, and the bare is ground.

  4. Twist the black wires together and screw on a wire nut. Repeat for the red, white and bare wires.

  5. Screw the cover back on the electrical junction box. Restore power to the circuit once all of the appliances or outlets are wired. The circuit is now successfully pigtailed.

Tips

The gauge for each wire in the pigtail must be the same. For example, if the wire coming from the circuit breaker is 12 gauge, all additional wiring must be 12 gauge.

Elizabeth Knoll

Elizabeth Knoll has been writing full-time since 2008. She has a deep love for gardening and has spent a vast amount of time researching that subject. Her work appears on various websites. Knoll received a certificate in Early Childhood…

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