Garage Heater

[Erik Eitel]

My neighbor gave me an electric heater that he was using as an auxiliary heater in his basement. He also has one in his garage.

My plan is to install it in the garage and use it when I do vehicle maintenance or other projects when it's cold. I do not want it to run all the time.

The heater is 220 VAC and has a maximum draw of 21 amps.

My initial thought was to use a bathroom vent fan timer switch (60 minute) but at 220 VAC they are only rated at 10 amps.

I would like to use a 60 minute timer so that I don't have to worry about forgetting to turn it off. I can't seem to find anything suitable though.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks!

[sacherjj]

Perhaps finding a constant duty relay that can handle the 220V load, but is driven with a 120V circuit. Then use the timer to drive the relay to power the heater. Not sure of the costs involved, but you just need to increase the switching capability. A constant duty DPST relay that can handle the voltage and amperage should work fine. If it is powered by 12V or 24V DC, then you can just use a power brick into the switched 120V to power the relay.

[Erik Eitel]

Perhaps finding a constant duty relay that can handle the 220V load, but is driven with a 120V circuit. Then use the timer to drive the relay to power the heater. Not sure of the costs involved, but you just need to increase the switching capability. A constant duty DPST relay that can handle the voltage and amperage should work fine. If it is powered by 12V or 24V DC, then you can just use a power brick into the switched 120V to power the relay.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing!!! Not really.

Actually someone I work with suggested something similar.

I'm looking for something simple and INEXPENSIVE.

Thank you for the suggestion though!

[big tim]

You want something simple, non electric? Hang a windup kitchen timer around your neck, set it and when it goes off, it will remind you to turn off the heater. Be careful bending over the tablesaw though!

Tim

[bigangelman]

Something simple and inexpensive would be to donate this heater and write off the value. This thing will cost A LOT to feed.

Tom

[Erik Eitel]

Something simple and inexpensive would be to donate this heater and write off the value. This thing will cost A LOT to feed.

Tom

I only intend to use on the really cold days when I have to work out in the garage.

[Tom Slick]

you could use a contactor like a p/n 5B126 from grainger. it's rated for 30 amps @ 230v with a 120V coil.
Then attach a mechanical timer like p/n 4A218 which is a 6hr 120v timer
put it all in an enclosure like p/n 4KP28
you are still less then $75 not including wire, circuit breaker, and electrician fees.
how cheap did you want to go?

[onedash]

Get one for a sauna....

[Erik Eitel]

you could use a contactor like a p/n 5B126 from grainger. it's rated for 30 amps @ 230v with a 120V coil.
Then attach a mechanical timer like p/n 4A218 which is a 6hr 120v timer
put it all in an enclosure like p/n 4KP28
you are still less then $75 not including wire, circuit breaker, and electrician fees.
how cheap did you want to go?

Ok, now we're on to something!

I'm looking at the Grainger catalog and how do I know what I want?
Am I looking for the coil volts to be 110-120? And how do I wire it, specifically?
I understand it's 220 in one side and 110 in the other the timer, but can you get a bit more specific?

I can do all the wiring myself...

Thanks!

[JR]

Loring (lchien) published a remote control mehcanism that could help you, although his links are broken!

Here's the thread http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=19603

You might PM him to see if he can round up the drawings and pics. The nice thing about his design is that it used simple low-amperage devices to enable high-current ones. Very clever and and a modest cost.

JR

[Tom Slick]

without haveing the parts I can't say for sure but if you used the part numbers I posted you would have the 2 hot legs into the contactor. you'd tie into one leg and go out to the timer then from the timer to the coil. the other side of the coil would be a seperate neutral back to the panel.
then you would have the switched 2 hot legs out to the heater.

[Erik Eitel]

I ordered the contactor from eBay, it is about $4.

Found the info in Loring's instructions.

Thanks for all the input!