Seasonal switch circuit

[bayseven#7]

I have a 240v 20 amp circuit to pool house. I would like to put 240v heater in garage. Obviously wont be using both at same time (seasons)Is there a switch or ? that I could I could wire in so I'm able to switch between the 2 circuits?
Thanks

 

[mike93lx]

How is the wiring run? Hard to advise without knowing more about the setup.

If this was mine and I could access the wiring in the garage, I'd have no problem adding a receptacle there for it.

 

[bayseven#7]

Only circuit right now is from breaker panel straight run to pool house. No room left in the panel that's the reason I would like to use the same breakers for heater. I don't want to open panel and swap wires between heater and then pool. Hope that makes sense

 

[BillK]

Only circuit right now is from breaker panel straight run to pool house.

Is the breaker panel in the garage that you want to heat ? Is the wiring easily accessible outside of the panel ?

 

[bayseven#7]

Panel is in basement but easy to run a line into for heater.

 

[PCustoms]

Could add a small sub panel.

Current feed goes to sub, sub has 2 breakers. Pool house and heater.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What youre looking for is a double pole double throw switch

the common terminals goes to the feed, the other sets of terminals goes to the heater and pool

 

[mm08822]

Put a jbox next to the panel. Remove the branch circuit wiring from the panel and put into jbox.
Run new wiring from jbox to heater/receptacle.

Run new wiring from jbox back into panel.

As mentioned above, add dpdt switch in jbox.

Do you really need the switch? How likely is it you will run heat and pool house at the same time?

 

[bayseven#7]

Thank you for the ideas. I will look into them and figure out the least expensive route. Much appreciated.

 

[u2slow]

Some people can control themselves.... And live with both things on one circuit and only operate one. Just saying.

 

[dave*99]

Only circuit right now is from breaker panel straight run to pool house. No room left in the panel that's the reason I would like to use the same breakers for heater. I don't want to open panel and swap wires between heater and then pool. Hope that makes sense

Can you put tandem breakers in the panel to free up space?

Or a quad breaker?


Check the info on the panel door and see if it can accommodate this approach.

 

[wssix99]

A 20 amp 4-way switch from Home Depot will do what you want here. (A "4-Way" switch is a DPDT.)

 

[PCustoms]

A 20 amp 4-way switch from Home Depot will do what you want here. (A "4-Way" switch is a DPDT.)

Would it matter if the pool house has motors?

 

[rooster59]

If this is a circuit for a pool pump I wouldn't mess with it. Should be on a GFI breaker. Use a separate circuit for a garage heater.

 

[mike93lx]

A 20 amp 4-way switch from Home Depot will do what you want here. (A "4-Way" switch is a DPDT.)

Need to be careful on a 4-way switch. That's the nomenclature for a switch used in a circuit with 3+ switches. Not all are dpdt

 

[wssix99]

Need to be careful on a 4-way switch. That's the nomenclature for a switch used in a circuit with 3+ switches. Not all are dpdt

You are correct. All should disregard my comment above. It flowed from a brain fart. I have used 4 way switches to reverse polarity on circuits. It doesn't have the terminals or internals like a DPDT. I was probably recalling that a DPDT can be used as a 4-way. (Not the other way around.) https://forum.digikey.com/t/how-to-wire-a-dpdt-switch-as-4-way-for-multiway-switching/6985

Home stores can order DPDT switches, but its probably a lot easier to just grab one from Grainger or Amazon.

 

[JohnX14]

Some people can control themselves.... And live with both things on one circuit and only operate one. Just saying.

That is what I was thinking. Put them on the same breaker and run one or the other. It won't be code compliant, but it'll work fine, and is not a hazard.

 

[The Cobbler]

 

[dave*99]

Leviton 30 Amp Industrial Grade Heavy Duty Double-Pole Double-Throw Center-Off Maintained Contact Toggle Switch, Brown 1288 - The Home Depot

Leviton Amp Industrial Grade Heavy Duty Double-Pole Double-Throw Center-Off Maintained Contact Toggle Switch, Brown is ideal for commercial use.

www.homedepot.com

But I'd prefer to solve the OP's issue with tandems or quads in the main panel.

 

[mike93lx]

Ah, good ol Heschen electrical. The real question is standard or bigger?

 

[bayseven#7]

Thank you to all for the range of ideas. To close out the thread I went with "temporarily " having both circuits on same breaker. I will never be using both at the same time obviously. A laminated note is tied on a wire beside panel incase something happens to me before I get a sub panel installed