120V Countdown Timer Switch for 240V Heater

[1190R]

I have a 240V wall heater that I would like to control with an electronic countdown timer
I bought the timer seen in the attached pic thinking it would work since it is rated 120-277V
My electrician so no- it's rated for either 120 or 277V, not from 120 to 277V
I looked around and found another similarly rated countdown timer and contacted their tech support
They said I can use their timer in 120V mode if I "break the neutral"
My knowledge of electrical is pretty limited but what I understood him to say is that I would splice in the timer in one of the two 120V legs that feed the 240V heater
My electrician once again said no- It doesn't work that way
Who's right? Manufacturer or my electrician?

 

[rlitman]

I've never heard of a device that is rated for 120V or 277V but not 208V and 240V and everything in between, but that doesn't mean it does not exist. Perhaps you can share the model so we can actually look up the specific device you are asking about.

 

[1190R]

I've never heard of a device that is rated for 120V or 277V but not 208V and 240V and everything in between, but that doesn't mean it does not exist. Perhaps you can share the model so we can actually look up the specific device you are asking about.

Of course

This is what I bought https://store.hubbell.com/product/2127790

This is what I was told would work by "breaking the neutral" https://www.intermatic.com/Product/EI400WC?setcontextlanguagecode=en

 

[BillK]

A 240 volt wall heater will normally not have neutral unless it has some type of electronic control that requires 120.

What heater do you have ?

 

[1190R]

A 240 volt wall heater will normally not have neutral unless it has some type of electronic control that requires 120.

What heater do you have ?

Stelpro ASOA2002WCW

https://www.stelpro.com/wp-content/uploads/produits/documents/FC/FC_SOA_US_web.pdf

 

[rlitman]

Stelpro ASOA2002WCW

https://www.stelpro.com/wp-content/uploads/produits/documents/FC/FC_SOA_US_web.pdf

2000W exceeds the rating of the timer switch, so I think the question is moot. I do not believe that switch can control that heater directly (without a contactor or something else).

 

[Norcal]

Use the timer to control a contactor that will switch the heater on or off, contactor would need a 120 volt coil, should not be hard tp set up.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I've never heard of a device that is rated for 120V or 277V but not 208V and 240V and everything in between, but that doesn't mean it does not exist. Perhaps you can share the model so we can actually look up the specific device you are asking about.

looks like it indeed is only rated for 120v and 277v but as you pointed out its not rated for 2000w....

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Of course

This is what I bought https://store.hubbell.com/product/2127790

This is what I was told would work by "breaking the neutral" https://www.intermatic.com/Product/EI400WC?setcontextlanguagecode=en

who told you this? there is no neutral on a 240v rated resistive heater.

that intermatic could work as its rated for 20a 120v-277v. note it says in the description: "No neutral connection is required."

if it were mine, Id want a contactor as said above.

 

[BillK]

You are probably going to have to do something like this:

Using a countdown timer to control a 40A 240V contactor

It seems there are a couple ways to do this, but I haven't seen the exact solution I'm looking at so I wanted to check with the community on this. I have a 4KW patio heater I'd like to control with a

diy.stackexchange.com

 

[rlitman]

looks like it indeed is only rated for 120v and 277v ...

It does look that way. The spec sheet doesn't say it outright, but the table on catalog page 7 does:

https://hubbellcdn.com/literature/Wiring_WLBTS007.pdf

"Note: Neutral required."

 

[walta]

A relay like a RIB01P30 will allow the timer you have to control your heater up to 20 Amps.

This relay comes with an enclosure and mounts in a standard knock out hole for a fast and easy install.

Salesforce B2B Commerce

www.functionaldevices.com

Walta

 

[mm08822]

I've never heard of a device that is rated for 120V or 277V but not 208V and 240V and everything in between, but that doesn't mean it does not exist. Perhaps you can share the model so we can actually look up the specific device you are asking about.

The switch the OP bought is for lighting circuits. The switch requires a neutral for the load and a grd connection to operate properly.
I'm thinking the neutral and grd have to be at the same potential for the internal circuits to properly work. 208Y/^ & 240 Y/^vac circuits would not have a "neutral load conductor" at the same potential as grd in either of those 4 systems. (240^ corner grounded could be the exception.)

 

[alfredeneuman]

Electric heaters run the fan after the elements turn off to cool the housing.
If it's suddenly shut down you're going to lose that.

 

[1190R]

Electric heaters run the fan after the elements turn off to cool the housing.
If it's suddenly shut down you're going to lose that.

The manufacturer (Stelpro) recommends the Intermatic spring wound countdown timer

 

[dave*99]

The manufacturer (Stelpro) recommends the Intermatic spring wound countdown timer

I've installed a ton of them. They always work.