Electric shop heater wiring help

[free07110]

I purchased a electric overhead heater for my 30x34 shop to help take the chill out for this winter. Purchased it from Northern tool. It’s a 220v unit that requires 40 amp 8 gauge wire. My question is where can I find a 40 amp safety switch or on/off switch to wire before the heater?

Most switches I looked at Lowe’s are rated for 30 amp unless I want to get some big bulky 60 amp box.
I prefer something big enough or colorful enough that I can look over before I leave my shop and know I turned the heater off. I do have a Square D 30amp safety switch for my compressor and love it because I can visually see it’s off anywhere in the shop and know it’s off before I walk out when I’m done. Would like the same ability for the heater switch too.

 

[pattenp]

I assume the breaker panel is nowhere near to just use the breaker.

 

[free07110]

No it’s on the other side of the shop. The control panel on the heater has a on/off but it’s mounted to my 10ft trusses so that’s a little hard to reach. Plan on just turning it up and it if gets hot inside I can just turn it off from a safety switch mounted at a reasonable height.

 

[PWC Repair]

Why not just wire the voltage through a 40a contactor.....piggyback off that to feed a 24v transformer.....and run a few feet of tstat wire down the wall to an actual thermostat? If you're worried about cost, any hvac guy will have good used parts from a changeout for next to $0. It's gonna get old real quick turning it on and off if you try to work out there all day.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Mine is wired through a low voltage thermostat. I recommend that method.

 

[free07110]

The only time the heater will be on will be after work for a bit and on the weekends while I’m out there. Have no plans to let it run while I’m not a my home. Sometimes depending on work I might step foot in the shop for several days at a time.

 

[240sxguy]

Mine is wired through a low voltage thermostat. I recommend that method.

I have one of these heaters too. Would you mind sharing how you accomplished that?

 

[pattenp]

This will work, but not cheap.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003AU724E/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Edit: Switch labeled as 40A but sticker on back comments about 30A time delay fuse max. ??? Re-read that's at 600v.

 

[u2slow]

Heat rises... how about mounting it lower where you can reach, and heat the space better?

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

I have one of these heaters too. Would you mind sharing how you accomplished that?

Mine came with the house. It is a pretty simple set up. It is hooked up like this:

1. There is a 24V transformer and a DPST relay.
2. Power from the circuit breakers goes into the relay.
3. Relay output goes to the heater.
4. Relay control and 24V transformer power goes to the thermostat.
5. Thermostat triggers the relay when it needs heat and closes the power legs to the heater.

 

[Bert_]

You could wire a thermostat to the contactor that's already in the heater. if you just wanted on off you could even use a light switch

 

[nadogail]

I use a 24 Volt transformer, A DPST Relay, and a Spring Powered twist timer, the timer automatically shuts the heat off if the knob is not re-twisted within 30 minutes.

 

[free07110]

I think I’m over thinking this. I want a on/off switch. Prefer a big safety switch like stated above but then started thinking the dang thing has a on/off switch. I could tie into that switch and run wire down to just a regular house light switch to make the on/off switch remote from unit. Attached is the diagram That’s inside the unit. Seems like I figured it out without spending a lot for a safety switch.

 

[CoogarXR]

Here's how I did mine. Probably a little overkill for what you need, but that's how I roll, lol.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=372238