Circuit for Electric Heater

[Dennis McDonaugh]

I would like to install this heater in my workshop.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Fahrenheat-5-000-Watt-Unit-Heater-FUH54/202043073

Here is a chart out of the owners manual:

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q320/bmcdonau/Heater_zpsd44a3fd0.jpg

It says its capable of heating up to 500 sq. ft which is almost exactly the size of my workshop. I think I will need a 30 amp breaker with 10 gauge wire to run it at full 5K. Does that sound right?

[Robert Delhommer Sr]

That is correct. :)

[Dennis McDonaugh]

Thanks Robert

[Don Jarvie]

Probably needs to be hard wired, ie not plug. You would turn it off and on with the thermostat.

[Art Mann]

I have a different brand that is very similar and I just plug it in to a 240V 30A 3-wire outlet. The thermostat is built in, but it isn't very consistent. It would probably be an improvement if you could use a line voltage thermostat.

[Jim Hill]

Just installed the exact heater this past December. Correct with 10 g wire and 30 amp breaker.

[Peter Kelly]

I've got this one as well. Works great even in my drafty shop.

[Dennis McDonaugh]

Thanks for the positive feedback.

[Mike Cutler]

I have a different brand that is very similar and I just plug it in to a 240V 30A 3-wire outlet. The thermostat is built in, but it isn't very consistent. It would probably be an improvement if you could use a line voltage thermostat.


Excellent suggestion!!
The Aube 240 line voltage controllers are 7 day programable ,PID ( Proportional+ Integral+ Derivative ), self tuning, pulse width modulating controllers.
A lot of gibberish to say that they control temp within a narrow band, and "learn" from previous heating cycles. Given a few cycles, they'll keep the room at +/- 2 degrees. The power is never "full on" it's a modulated, pulsed, duty cycle .
Excellent controllers, and not that expensive. $40-$70, and sometimes less.

[Dennis McDonaugh]

Excellent suggestion!!
The Aube 240 line voltage controllers are 7 day programable ,PID ( Proportional+ Integral+ Derivative ), self tuning, pulse width modulating controllers.
A lot of gibberish to say that they control temp within a narrow band, and "learn" from previous heating cycles. Given a few cycles, they'll keep the room at +/- 2 degrees. The power is never "full on" it's a modulated, pulsed, duty cycle .
Excellent controllers, and not that expensive. $40-$70, and sometimes less.

Do you install this at the end of the line and attach the heater to it?

[Mike Cutler]

Dennis

Yes.
Your 30 amp/ 240vac circuit is hardwired to the Line Voltage Controller, or Thermostat, and the heater is wired to the line voltage controller as the load. This is a wall mounted unit pretty much the same size as a normal thermostat, and about as hard to install as a duplex receptacle. It's nothing exotic, other than in how it works.
A coworker has an all electric house and his electric bill was running $700.00 plus in the winter. He changed his whole house to these and dropped his bill about $100-$125 a month. I have them installed in my house also which is electrically heated. I use a wood stove though.