Questing about converting an Old oven

[f575gtc]

Hey guys,

I never threw out my old oven and I was thinking I could use just the oven part to cure powder coated items.

My question is this, we ran a 240 outlet into my garage, but this was before we had plans for a oven so we only ran 10 gauge wire.

If I have NO intentions of running the top range (I even removed the elements already), can I get away with running 20-30 amps to the oven only without causing a house fire? Like a dual 15 or dual 20 and each 110v from its own breaker, will 10 gauge be safe? I am running my air compressor off a 30amp breaker with 10 gauge wire no problem, but the compressor is only 22amps. We have no way of running 8-2 wires without ripping up the sheet rock again.

 

[Mustang51js]

Most ovens are 30 amps,you need to find the label and it should say what the bottom element draws. If it draws 30 then just get the same cord and swap them when you want to use it.

 

[f575gtc]

the oven is probably 15 years old, the only label I see is VERY faded.

 

[Mustang51js]

Try it with the 30. Amp. Worse case they. Breaker trips.what was it on before

 

[f575gtc]

it was on a 40 amp with #6 or 8 wire, but I figured that was to accommodate all 4 elements and oven running at the same time which would total well over 10,000watts.

I won't be running anything else than the oven around 350-400 degrees to cure painted parts. I just worry I will melt the wires and start a house fire, but 10awg should be more than capable of safely handing a 30amp breaker no?

 

[Mustang51js]

10 wire is rated for 30 amps so your good, they only way you would melt the wires is if you put a bigger breaker in and it draws more than 30 amps. I think you will be ok, the oven I have for powder coating was given to me and it uses 30 amp plug, and my home oven has both oven and cooktop and that's a 30 also.

 

[RonRock]

Sorry about the hijack, I don't want to completely de rail the thread. But I have to ask what are you guys using for your powdercoat system? Any good home powdercoat threads?

 

[volleyball]

You should be able to find out what element your oven has and how many watts it uses. That will tell you the oven power needs.
I say plan on rewiring the feed because you may want to build a double element larger oven or run other tools.
Plus you will able to have hot lunches out in the garage.

 

[Mustang51js]

Sorry about the hijack, I don't want to completely de rail the thread. But I have to ask what are you guys using for your powdercoat system? Any good home powdercoat threads?

I did it for fun so I just got the kit from harbor freight.

 

[f575gtc]

Yea I running a harbor freight kit, got it for $35.

The oven is a double element, I have it connected to a 20amp breaker and it heated up the oven without tripping the breaker, does this mean I can run a 20 or should I run a 30?

 

[Mustang51js]

Yeah if it didn't trip you should be good. But you might still have a problem later, it depends on how long you use it at once

 

[bfr57]

The ratings on ovens are for max conditions; all burners and oven on at the same time. I do home powder coating and started out with a household oven and then built a 4'x4'x4' oven with 4 3300W elements. On the household oven, I took all the knobs and burners off along with the broiler element, so the only thing able to heat is the bottom oven element. Let's say it's a 3000W element, that equates to almost 14 amps on a 220V circuit.

 

[ForceFed70]

Most bake elements come in at 3000watts. At 240V that's only 12.5A

So long as you have your 10ga circuit properly protected (30A circuit breaker) there is no risk of fire.

My homemade powdercoating oven uses a 3000W bake element and a 2500W broil element from an old stove (both elements come on at same time). Have had no issues running it off of a 30A circuit.

 

[jdub63]

Check out the oven building forum at Caswell plating.... this one is the most active one I've found.... http://forum.caswellplating.com/oven-building-forum/

 

[CADPoint]

The only thing else to consider is the voltage drop. What is this overall distance that your using from the oven to the point of attachment?

About 120' is your limit and degrades your times if longer.

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