I'm pretty sure that this isn't the right direction to go. I could have done it had I use 6/3 wire, but not 6/2. Oh well.

Any suggestions on a step down transformer that I could hardwire to 240V and output to a 120V receptacle?

A continuing example of why you should have had an electrician on-site.

You gonna spot me $700+? LOL

Come on, man, this stuff is extremely simple. If you can use a flathead screwdriver and know how to trim the ends of a wire then you can do it.

There's no shame in asking questions and double checking with more experienced people. I've been writing code for almost 30 years and still use message boards to ask questions.

Wow. ”this stuff is extremely simple. If you can use a flathead screwdriver and know how to trim the ends of a wire then you can do it.”

as a licensed electrician, thats just insulting. between this thread and the other, you have no clue what youre doing.

best of luck, youll need it.

Do tell, Dave. What am I missing that makes it worth $700?

* 2 screws off of the breaker box to take off the front cover

* Lay out the wire and conduit where it's going to go

* Strip the wire on one end, connect it to the obvious places in the disconnect box

* Run the wire up the sweep into the breaker box

* Strip the wire on that end, and connect it to the obvious places in the breaker

* Push the breaker in place

* Turn on the breaker

* Measure the voltage at the disconnect

* Bury the conduit and wire

* Mount the disconnect

I'm not trying to be insulting or disrespectful, but no one has given any reason to think that it's more complicated than that.

Do tell, @User. What am I missing?

Between this thread and the other one, a lot of people have said that it's complicated... but no one has said how or why.

I can't imagine that there's an important step that's being overlooked. You have a cable with 3 wires. You connect those 3 wires. I have a larger gauge than necessary, the proper breaker and disconnect, and it's buried to the depth suggested. It ain't rocket science.

I even bought a second ground rod to make sure the whole thing is well grounded.

It honestly feels like a bunch of electricians have banded together to make it seem scarier than it really is so that they can justify charging $250 /hour.

Your problem is youre too overly confident in your ability yet lack the basic know how and experience. There are plenty of steps youre missing and many more youll overlook. thats all because you think electrical work is simple. you dont fully grasp it. Hire an electrician.

There are plenty of steps youre missing and many more youll overlook.

Can you give me an example?

For starters:

It's dumb and a waste of money to run 6/2 240V to an outbuilding,. one should always wire an outbuilding for a 120V option.

It shows stupidity and utter carelessness to even consider using a ground wire as a neutral.

Sure, but neither of those bullet points are examples of a step that I missed or that I've done something dangerous. They're just childish insults.

It's dumb and a waste of money to run 6/2 240V to an outbuilding,. one should always wire an outbuilding for a 120V option.

I needed a 30,000 BTU heater for the greenhouse. I'm sure that, as an electrician, you know that the most I can get out of a 15A 120V breaker is about 5000 BTUs. Technically the heaters I could find used 12.5A, so I guess you could squeeze a little more out of 15A if you can find the right heater. But nowhere near 30,000.

Are you suggesting that it would be cheaper to buy (6) heaters and run (6) 15A lines than to run a single 240?

It's irrelevant at this point, though, because it's done and cost about $150. The new 240V heater is working great; we recently had a 20F night, but the greenhouse stayed a cozy 78 :-D

It shows stupidity and utter carelessness to even consider using a ground wire as a neutral.

I respectfully disagree.

"Stupid" implies an inability to learn, and "carelessness" implies doing it without worrying about the consequences. I did neither; what I displayed was "ignorance". Which I openly acknowledged, and is why I asked.

Consider that my experience is primarily in 12V DC, not AC. So in my mind, if it measures 120V and I need 120V, then what's the difference?

You never actually answered that question, and I suspect that you don't understand why it's a problem, either. If you do and would care to explain, though, then I would be happy to learn it from you.