40amp 240v switch/timer

[that-guy]

i'm looking for a switch and/or timer for a 240V ceiling mounted heater i am installing in my garage. the heater will be too high and require a ladder to turn it on every time, so i would ideally like a 40amp switch to turn it on and off as needed. I was also thinking a timer, so that when my wife wakes up in the morning, the heater will turn on to get the garage a little warmer when she gets in the car, and turn off automatically as she is prone to forget stuff like that.

i walked around my local Lowes and Home Depot and couldn't seem to find any switches over 30amps, and for only 120V instead of 240V

 

[pattenp]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Interma...rial-Timer-Switch-Gray-GM40AVE-RD89/205149700

 

[fitter30]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Intermatic...3b40009d71:g:7BMAAOSwfcFc7vBc&redirect=mobile

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Miller-124...trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&redirect=mobile

 

[Bert_]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Intermatic-T102-40-Amp-24-Hour-Mechanical-Time-Switch-with-Indoor-Steel-Enclosure-Gray-T102/205878308

These timers have been made for decades. They are very reliable.

This timer and several others will only have one contact. That's fine since even for a 240 volt heater you only need to switch one line.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Many electric heaters run the fan after the elements shut off so check beforehand. This is done in order to cool the elements, and prevent any possible damage to the heater.
Switching the power off suddenly might not be a good idea.

 

[Stuart in MN]

i'm looking for a switch and/or timer for a 240V ceiling mounted heater i am installing in my garage. the heater will be too high and require a ladder to turn it on every time, so i would ideally like a 40amp switch to turn it on and off as needed. I was also thinking a timer, so that when my wife wakes up in the morning, the heater will turn on to get the garage a little warmer when she gets in the car, and turn off automatically as she is prone to forget stuff like that.

Why not use a wall mount programmable thermostat? It would allow you to turn it on or off, or to have it come on in the morning to run until your wife is ready to leave for work.

 

[Kevin Essiambre]

I would see if the company that makes the heater has a "remote mount thermostat kit".

If they do, this should allow you to install a programmable thermostat (or if you really want to, a smart thermostat) very easily.

As someone else mentioned, some heaters will run the fan after the heating element shuts off. This can make the project a little harder to complete with just a normal switch or timeclock .

Sent from my new phone. Autocorrect may have changed stuff.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, I used a 30 minute manual twist timer to make and break the 24 volt output from the plug in power supply, originally from a sprinkler time clock, to operate a 40 amp relay I purchased from Automation Direct. the 24 volt supply is plugged into the receptacle for the garage door opener. The switched 24 volt circuit powers the relay controlling the garage heater. The relay is mounted inside a metal box next to the heater.

The beauty of this crude system is that nobody forgets to turn off the heater before leaving the garage.