240V 30A either/or manual switch

[wesalexleft]

I have a hot tub running on 240v/30 AMP dedicated circuit with a safety breaker within 20 feet of the hot tub outdoors. I'd like a 240v line in the garage to run a heater during the times I'm working out there. The 240V line supplying the hot tub runs through the garage attic before exiting the wall to the stand alone breaker for the hot tub. What I'd like to do it to splice an either/or switch in the 240 line in the attic of the garage and put in a manual lever type switch so that the 240V 30 AMP service could either be powering the hot tub, or a heater in the garage. that way, on a cold Saturday morning while I'm in the garage I could select the "heater" side of the switch, shutting down the hot tub and using the heater. When done, I could simply switch it back to powering the hot tub. Only thing is, I can't find this type of blade switch. I imagine it looking like a breaker box with a red handle with a up/middle/down position. I've searched online but the only thing I keep coming across are generator transfer switches which seem too expensive to just do what I have in mind. Anybody know what this would be called and what to search under?

 

[gatchel]

What happens if you forget to switch back to the hot tub on a cold winter day...just thinking out loud...

Have you priced out running another circuit so that you have a number to compare to the "other" options.?

 

[wesalexleft]

I haven't priced getting another line run. The thought behind the either/or was that I could do that myself with minimal labor invovled. My main is pretty much full. I think that having another line run would require a sub-panel, etc which would run the cost a little high for a $250.00 heater. I was hoping on finding a $30.00-$50.00 switch and some wire to make it happen. I'll be running kerosene this winter, but just thinking ahead to next year.

 

[jeffmoss26]

so the switch would be on-off-on? Does that make sense?

 

[wesalexleft]

Yes. I imagine it as being "garage heater on" in the up position, "all off" in the center position, and "hot tub on" in the lower postion with no possible way for both to be on at the same time.

 

[climbabout]

Here you go:
http://www.hubbellcatalog.com/bryant/datasheet.asp?PN=3025I

Tim

 

[ForceFed70]

You could also think about using that line to feed a subpanel in your garage (which would then feed the hot-tub). That way you can flip breakers instead of a switch and you add a lot of flexibility for adding future circuits in the garage, etc.

 

[Jagmandave]

You may have to go to your local electrical supply house, but they have them pretty much exactly as you described it.....I've seen them, and I was going to use one very similar for my genset hookup, to disconnect from the mainline, of course mine would have to be a lot heavier to handle the 100 amp input from the mains.....so it's a lot more than $30-$50....

 

[jeffmoss26]

I've done this with a DPDT toggle switch for speaker selection. Same principle but high amperage and voltage.

 

[Aceman]

You're getting the cart before the horse.

First off, check the label in the panel and make sure you can't use quad breakers. That's essentially a twin 2 pole breaker. That'll give you an extra spot for a 240v load.

Second, if that doesn't work see if you can twin up four 120v circuits to make room for your 240v heater circuit. Again, check the panel to see if this is possible.

Cutting into a hot tub circuit to power a heater is cheesy at best.

If a customer asked me to do it your way, I'd tell them to save their money until they can do it right, by running a dedicated circuit to their heater.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

From Amazon, Leviton Brown DPDT Double Pole Double Throw Maintained Contact Switch 30A 1288

I just bought three 20 amp DPDT swtiches thru Fruit Ridge Tools on Ebay, they are good to deal with.

That being said, I think you should run a new wire (ASSUMING THIS IS AN ATTACHED GARAGE). This switch is not cheap ($60) and will require a deep 4 inch box at minimum to do the wiring. 10 gauge is difficult to work with.

Charles

 

[sberry]

Your hot tub is no place for a DIY cobbled learning scheme.
I really don't mean to be real rude about that but there is a whole code section dealing with specifics for tubs and pools, I have read thru it, don't recall every word but am pretty sure they wouldn't allow this circuit to be shared with other equipment. Tub circuit may require insulated ground wire, etc