What are my options. I have a one car garage about 300 sq. ft. with a 240v 50amp outlet in there for my Lincoln welder. Are there any electric garage heaters for that? Something that I can plug in so I can simply un-plug and use my welder when ready. Possibly portable.All the one that I see use a little 240v 20amp breaker style plug.
Electric garage heaters
- Thread starter pipehack
- Start date
airwalk
Active member
You could just go with whatever heater you like, I'm sure you wouldn't need more than a 4-5 kW unit for that space, and then just build an adapter pigtail to plug the unit in (ie. 20A female on one end and 50A male on other end with same size cable as heater has). This probably isn't allowed by code, but if you're smart about it in how you use it, you should be fine. The only danger here is if the heater shorts out you might not be as well protected with that 50A breaker.
My garage is approx. 450 sf. and I have a 50A outlet for my TIG welder.
I have this heater: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/3VU36?Pid=search
I made up a short adapter cord with a plug that matches the welder receptacle and a receptacle that matches the heater plug.
The heater works great and has a built-in thermostat which lets me adjust to a comfortable temp.
Rodger
I have this heater: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/3VU36?Pid=search
I made up a short adapter cord with a plug that matches the welder receptacle and a receptacle that matches the heater plug.
The heater works great and has a built-in thermostat which lets me adjust to a comfortable temp.
Rodger
Thanks. The price is right too. Can't I just lop off the end of the cord and change it?
Definitely....I just had the stuff to make the adapter cord laying around and used it.
Rodger
airwalk
Active member
You could replace the end on the heater, but then you could only use it in your garage. If this is the only place it is ever going to be used though, lopping the end off is even better!
Busted_Knuckles
Well-known member
Hi Pipehack, not sure if your far enough out to hit a Farm and Fleet, but I had been using this 220v heater to heat a 2.5 car garage for about 5 years, I really like it, built in thermostat. I let it run 24-7. At the time I got it for $200 on sale, its gone up since then. Would keep the garage as warm as I liked, I kept it around 65. I moved last year, and have a larger shop now, and have radiant heat. Just another option. I couldnt get the grainger link to open, so Im not sure what your looking at, good luck, stay warm, Bill
http://www.farmandfleet.com/catalog/product.aspx?i=321776
http://www.farmandfleet.com/catalog/product.aspx?i=321776
There's a farm and fleet not too far from me. That was my last stop. I might head out tonight. BTW. I had to click on it more than once to get the page to come up.
mcdtommy23
Well-known member
I've got the same heater, had it for 2 years now. 500sq ft garage, r-15 walls, r-19 ceiling. It maintains 60 deg. when I'm not in there and can get it as toasty as I want when I crank it up. As the fan isn't very big I strongly suggest a ceiling fan or a cheap oscilating fan running to circulate the heat and keep moisture at bay.
rickairmedic
Well-known member
Pipehack I also have the 3VU36 . I have about 450SF I heat with it 24/7 . I have actually goten it up to 80* in here and normally keep the heater set at about 1/2 way up too keep it a nice comfy 65* in here and it cycles on and off just fine . I would recomend even if you get it at grainger ( I got mine there ) print out this page and get them to pricematch . ( My buddy in Jersey ordered his from Drillspot ( the link here ) and he had it in 2 days with free shipping aaaaaaaaaaaaaand it arrived at his house in a Grainger Box 
) . Oh yeah I cut the plug off of mine and put a 50 amp plug on it so I could plug it into my 50 foot welder extension cord .
http://www.drillspot.com/products/51637/Dayton_3VU36_Heater
Rick
) . Oh yeah I cut the plug off of mine and put a 50 amp plug on it so I could plug it into my 50 foot welder extension cord .http://www.drillspot.com/products/51637/Dayton_3VU36_Heater
Rick
So let me ask a question: I can run a 3VU36 and cut the cord off, or splice the cord and run it to a dryer outlet?
I have a 3 prong dryer outlet in my garage that isn't being used. It's a 50 amp. Could I get a dryer cord that matches the plug in my outlet and then splice the wires to a 10/3 type cord and then power the 3VU36 this way?
Go to Home Depot or Menards and look at the dryer cords. Make sure the 3 prong on the dryer cord is the SAME as what you have in your garage, now. There are a few different 3 prong styles. If they DON'T match, I would just do what Rick is saying and just change the end.
These guys walked me through what I did. I like to mess around with this stuff and learn about it. If you are not real handy, I would do what Rick is saying. Also available at Home Depot or Menards.
If it matches. You can buy that one and remove your cover on the heater which is held on by 4 little screws. You will see the wiring it hooked up to 3 places. You will have to cut a few plastic wiring straps that hold all the wires together. Super easy.
You'll see a green ground. a white and a black wire (Your 2 hot wires.) Replace those wire ends (they are "slip ons" that your heater needs) becuase the dryer cord comes with 'round" ends. Snip them off and replace with slip on ends/tips.
The heater comes with 2 hot wires (white and black) and a ground (Green). Your new dryer cord will have the same.
Here are pics of mine before and after.
BEFORE- You see the white and black wires. They are your HOT wires. The ground is not shown as it is just screwed onto the cabinet for grounding BEFORE the picture starts on the left hand side.
AFTER- Black to the old black, but red to where the original white one was. I think on a 3 prong, your wires will be black and red or black and white. Either way they both are HOT wires. Just put one or the other on each of the areas. Green to original ground spot.
These guys walked me through what I did. I like to mess around with this stuff and learn about it. If you are not real handy, I would do what Rick is saying. Also available at Home Depot or Menards.
If it matches. You can buy that one and remove your cover on the heater which is held on by 4 little screws. You will see the wiring it hooked up to 3 places. You will have to cut a few plastic wiring straps that hold all the wires together. Super easy.
You'll see a green ground. a white and a black wire (Your 2 hot wires.) Replace those wire ends (they are "slip ons" that your heater needs) becuase the dryer cord comes with 'round" ends. Snip them off and replace with slip on ends/tips.
The heater comes with 2 hot wires (white and black) and a ground (Green). Your new dryer cord will have the same.
Here are pics of mine before and after.
BEFORE- You see the white and black wires. They are your HOT wires. The ground is not shown as it is just screwed onto the cabinet for grounding BEFORE the picture starts on the left hand side.
AFTER- Black to the old black, but red to where the original white one was. I think on a 3 prong, your wires will be black and red or black and white. Either way they both are HOT wires. Just put one or the other on each of the areas. Green to original ground spot.
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Thanks for the info and the pics...... I have quite afew dryer cords laying around. Being in the rental property biz, I have to replace dryers and stoves all the time, and I always take the cords off before I sell or trash one.
The biggest extension cord I could find at Menards was a 10/4, but I found some 50amp ones online that I may pick up instead, since my outlet is a 50amp outlet.
The biggest extension cord I could find at Menards was a 10/4, but I found some 50amp ones online that I may pick up instead, since my outlet is a 50amp outlet.
Did you also go back to the washer/dryer section? Home Depot has them back there for sure. They have both 3 and 4 wire cords. I bought 2 of the 3 prong/wire cords that I am running (2) G73 Dayton heaters with the 3 prong dryer cords and 30 amp breaker, each. I have them wired up to 3 prong outlets in the ceiling. See pictures below.
My 3VU36 is hooked up to the 4 prong since it's running off one of my (in the wall) 4 prong plugs, 50 amp, 220v.
Man Cave/Work Shop
Car Stall-
My 3VU36 is hooked up to the 4 prong since it's running off one of my (in the wall) 4 prong plugs, 50 amp, 220v.
Man Cave/Work Shop
Car Stall-
Yes, I found the dryer cords at Menards. No Home Depot in my area of the world.... My problem is my outlet is about 20 feet from where my heater needs to be. Thats why I want an extension cord. I could run my bigger welder off that outlet by simply unplugging the heater.
mustangmccance
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2009
- Messages
- 832
why can't you just pick up some 8 guage wire romex and make a short extension cord?
So I'll need 8 guage? Just splice into the dryer cord with correct end and then put the correct female end on the other end for the heater to plug into ?
Sounds easy enough.
I found some 8 guage romex online for .99 cents a foot.
Would 10 guage work? Or should I stay with the 8 guage ?
Thanks, I'm not into electric at all outside of replacing 110 outlets and switches
Sounds easy enough.
I found some 8 guage romex online for .99 cents a foot.
Would 10 guage work? Or should I stay with the 8 guage ?
Thanks, I'm not into electric at all outside of replacing 110 outlets and switches