3 phase heaters

[Catadj78]

First off I don't know if this should be in heating and cooling or electrical.



I have a chance to buy some 3 phase hanging heaters. These were used in a service dept of a car dealership. The price is reasonable however I do not know if I can make them work on 220v or not

Anyone have any experience doing this?

 

[gregtwojeeps]

You posted in the right forum. Unless you have a 3 phase electrical service in your shop/garage, it is not really practical to buy phase convertors for them. Just my opinion though.

 

[930dreamer]

Are they radiant type heaters?

 

[nadogail]

Without a schematic drawing of the heater I can't offer advice.

If they are purely resistive, maybe yes; if they have a three phase blower motor you probably will not find them practical.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Good point 930. All electric resistance element units or gas/propane fired ? Just converting 3 ph. fan motors to single phase would not be that expensive. jmo

 

[Lassen Forge]

^^^^ This.

Converting your heater to common voltage and 1 phase could be tricky (or impossible), and it's likely not going to be cheap (you'll likely at least need motors, etc. for them)... if the controls are 208 or 277, you'll need to add that tot he mix.

Me? Unless I was planning on putting in 3 phase to my shop I would pass on them. That's just me, tho.

 

[Catadj78]

Here is a picture of one.

I can get them for $50.00 a piece.

I spoke with the mgr and all he said is that they were 220v 3 phase. Thats all I know other than I don't have 3 phase. I do have 200amp at the shop though

 

[nh_yota]

If the price is right, buy them to flip them and spend the money on the correct heaters for your application.

 

[dave*99]

Going only on what I see in the photo, here is my humble opinion. It appears to be a radiant heater. No fan. No motor. And I see 3 heating elements.

So I suspect each element is wired to a phase. And I suspect you can rewire them for single phase operation. Perhaps they are even designed for that.