Pilot light for garage furnace

[66HertzClone]

I had a Mr. Heater Big Maxx 50k BTU furnace installed in my garage last fall. I would like to add an indicator lamp so I know that it is turned on, the only switch or control is a simple thermostat, which has a little slide switch across the bottom, A/C Off Heat. Because of the small size and position of the thermostat it is difficult to see if the switch is in the on position, two different times during the winter I left it running when I went in the house at the end of the day. It occurred to me a pilot light the would be lit when the switch is in the on position would make it easy to remember that the heat is on. Has anybody done something like this or have an idea on how it could be accomplished?

 

[fitter30]

If your not going to run it could use a wired alexa relay wired in series with thermostat or spring timer.

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[66HertzClone]

Thank you, a far better and easier solution to my dilemma.

 

[nadogail]

Spring wound timers work well to allow operation of equipment or lighting while providing a limitation on excessive use.

I have seen them used to control both lights and air conditioning, they allow apparently unlimited access as long as someone turns the knob periodically.

 

[Fav Onefour]

I like simple thermostats when that's all that's all I need.

Those guys probably just used whatever stat they had on hand. Seems goofy because there is a variety of cheap and simple heat only stats available.
I'm guessing it is the simple basic wiring. Did they even run a three wire to the stat? Maybe replace the stat with something that has an easy to see indicator?

I'm not against adding extra switches and indicators. I have one system that I wired a wall switch to the sensor arrays for a snowmelt zone. It's super simple and just shuts down sensor and stat inputs on that zone. Is it needed? Maybe not. I did it because my wife kept asking if that zone heat was on. Honestly, it was inconvenient to check or verify before I added the switch. The displays are in the corner of the garage without backlighting. She had a hard time seeing them. I installed the wall switch out in the open so it's super easy to see.

Do whatever works, but keep it simple to use.