Hi Garey and all,
The homes around here have the convenience outlets wired with #14 and have 15 amp breakers. They are daisy chained. The kitchens are wired with #12 and there are usually 2 daisy chained outlets for those. Larger kitchens will have more 20 amp circuits.
If you are ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that that single outlet is wired with # 12, You can easily make a 220V circuit out of it but be absolutely sure that it is not daisy chained. If there is a single pair of leads in the box, (Black, White plus aER ground) that still doesn't mean that it is not daisy chained, it may just be the last outlet in the chain, so it would ve very wise to have a qualified electrician check it out before you do anything.
Also, the new NEC states that new 220V circuits must now carry a neutral as well as a ground so you would have to check with your local electricial inspector to see if rewiring that outlet, if it is on it's own SEPARATE CIRCUIT and could be GRANDFATHRED.
If it is SEPARATE and can be GRANDFATHERED, Remove the duplex outlet and install a single 220V-20Amp outlet in the box. Paint the white wire black, connect both leads o the outlet and replace the cover. In the breaker box, replace the 15amp breaker with a ganged 20 amp breaker, remove the white wire from the outlet from the neutral buss and paint it black. Then connect the pair of wires to the ganged breaker.
PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS without having the whole thing checked out by a qualified electrician and checking with the electrical inspector. Also, pull a permit because if you do something that has not been approved and you have a fire, your insurance will be difficult, if not impossible, to collect.
Again, don't try this without getting it approved!
73,
John, W4AWM
