Garage Heater rewire question

[myduodenum]

I have a 220v 50amp 3wire circuit. I'm looking at getting a heater that is 220v 20amp.

Can I cut the plug off the end of the heater cord and attach a 220v 50amp plug so I can use the 50amp circuit?

Thanks!

 

[IHI]

You can do whatever you want, but the safe way would be to buy a smaller outlet and breaker that way it's fused accordingly so as not to lead to overload that could lead to fire.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should

 

[pattenp]

You can but it is ill advised to do so. I assume it is a UL listed device and the cord and plug is sized accordingly. To change to a larger amp size plug is a potential fire risk.

 

[myduodenum]

You can do whatever you want, but the safe way would be to buy a smaller outlet and breaker that way it's fused accordingly so as not to lead to overload that could lead to fire.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should

You can but it is ill advised to do so. I assume it is a UL listed device and the cord and plug is sized accordingly. To change to a larger amp size plug is a potential fire risk.

Thanks guys!


I really don't want to do it is way but adding another circuit will be hard and costly.


I found a 220v 20amp inline breaker, if I wire this into the heater cord would this be acceptable assuming the heater cord is rated at 20amps?

 

[IHI]

You can use your existing circuit, it should be 10-3 wire since it's a 220V circuit.
Just remove and exchange your current outlet (the 50A) for a smaller 20Amp if that's what the new heater calls for. There is a pattern difference so you cant plug a high draw appliance (welder) into a low amperage circuit....this is why dryers, ranges, welders (all 220V) have different outlet patters/plugs because they all have a specific amerage requirement.

So swap out the outlet you currently have, swap out the 2 pole breaker you currently have for that circuit to a 20A 2pole and your done. Simple trip to the homecenter to buy new outlet/new plug to fit new outlet, and a smaller breaker...then just swap them all out. Grab a coffee, cold one and figure about an hour and your DUN- done.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Thanks guys!

I really don't want to do it is way but adding another circuit will be hard and costly.

I found a 220v 20amp inline breaker, if I wire this into the heater cord would this be acceptable assuming the heater cord is rated at 20amps?

Why not just swap the 50a breaker with a 20a breaker in the panel and change the receptacle?

You can use your existing circuit, it should be 10-3 wire since it's a 220V circuit.
Just remove and exchange your current outlet (the 50A) for a smaller 20Amp if that's what the new heater calls for. There is a pattern difference so you cant plug a high draw appliance (welder) into a low amperage circuit....this is why dryers, ranges, welders (all 220V) have different outlet patters/plugs because they all have a specific amperage requirement.

So swap out the outlet you currently have, swap out the 2 pole breaker you currently have for that circuit to a 20A 2pole and your done. Simple trip to the homecenter to buy new outlet/new plug to fit new outlet, and a smaller breaker...then just swap them all out. Grab a coffee, cold one and figure about an hour and your DUN- done.

huh? 10-3 wire, which usually means NM-b wire, is WAY too small for a 50a breaker.

 

[sberry]

Depends on whats connected to it.

 

[myduodenum]

You can use your existing circuit, it should be 10-3 wire since it's a 220V circuit.
Just remove and exchange your current outlet (the 50A) for a smaller 20Amp if that's what the new heater calls for. There is a pattern difference so you cant plug a high draw appliance (welder) into a low amperage circuit....this is why dryers, ranges, welders (all 220V) have different outlet patters/plugs because they all have a specific amerage requirement.

So swap out the outlet you currently have, swap out the 2 pole breaker you currently have for that circuit to a 20A 2pole and your done. Simple trip to the homecenter to buy new outlet/new plug to fit new outlet, and a smaller breaker...then just swap them all out. Grab a coffee, cold one and figure about an hour and your DUN- done.

Why not just swap the 50a breaker with a 20a breaker in the panel and change the receptacle?



huh? 10-3 wire, which usually means NM-b wire, is WAY too small for a 50a breaker.

Depends on whats connected to it.

The wire is 6-2 and yes I could just swap out the the 50a breaker for a 20a and same for the outlet but the circuits primary use is for my welder.


The heater has a overheat shut-off, doesn't this act as an internal breaker? Obviously this wouldn't protect the wires if there was a internal short.


I only plan on using this while I'm in the garage and not as a full time heat source. It wouldn't be unplugged when I'm not working.

 

[RickP]

Any other unused circuits in the garage that you could repurpose to a 240v circuit?

The cable size required for a 20A circuit isn't any bigger than a normal garage circuit, so it would be a pretty easy conversion, IF you have a spare circuit available.


Posted from Garagejournal.com App for Android

 

[RickP]

The wire is 6-2 and yes I could just swap out the the 50a breaker for a 20a and same for the outlet but the circuits primary use is for my welder.

How hard would it be to pull a neutral to the garage? You might be able to add a small 50A (or 60A) subpanel at the welder outlet and feed both welder and heater circuits from that. As long as your welder isn't huge, you might even be able to run them both at the same time.

Does the code allow a subpanel to be fed by two separate wires, as long as they are sized correctly?


Posted from Garagejournal.com App for Android

 

[myduodenum]

How hard would it be to pull a neutral to the garage? You might be able to add a small 50A (or 60A) subpanel at the welder outlet and feed both welder and heater circuits from that. As long as your welder isn't huge, you might even be able to run them both at the same time.

Does the code allow a subpanel to be fed by two separate wires, as long as they are sized correctly?


Posted from Garagejournal.com App for Android

I just finished rewiring the whole garage, spray foam, dry wall, and paint. So I REALLY don't want to run another circuit.


I like the subpanel ideal. Could I run a 50a plug from my current 50a outlet into a subpanel, wire it to a 20a breaker and then to the heater? Would the the grounds coming into the subpanel just be wired together?

 

[pattenp]

That would work. You could use this disconnect box and take out the switch and put in a 20A double pole Square-D QO breaker. The grounds connect together in the box to a bar. This is just for 240V only, no neutral so no 120V.

I just finished rewiring the whole garage, spray foam, dry wall, and paint. So I REALLY don't want to run another circuit.


I like the subpanel ideal. Could I run a 50a plug from my current 50a outlet into a subpanel, wire it to a 20a breaker and then to the heater? Would the the grounds coming into the subpanel just be wired together?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

How hard would it be to pull a neutral to the garage? You might be able to add a small 50A (or 60A) subpanel at the welder outlet and feed both welder and heater circuits from that. As long as your welder isn't huge, you might even be able to run them both at the same time.

Does the code allow a subpanel to be fed by two separate wires, as long as they are sized correctly?


Posted from Garagejournal.com App for Android

No. All wires in a feeder need to be in the same cable(if using cable such as NM-b) or conduit/raceway if using individual unjacketed wires such MHF or individual THHN.