So, I've been doing a lot of research and figuring out what all I need to buy to get started on my Kal/theelectricbrewery.com clone. I am at the point of figuring out how to supply power to the rig.
The issue is, my only 240V outlet is an old 3-prong, 50amp Range outlet which is usually plugged into my stove/oven. The way I understand it, the 3 lines in that receptacle are hot/hot/neutral, no separate ground. I am renting, so it's really not an option to route new outlets, new breakers in the main panel, etc.
So the actual questions here:
1) Is GFCI protection even an option from this outlet? I was planning (if it is possible/safe) to buy a spa panel and hook it up between the outlet and my control panel.
2) How do I deal with the no-ground issue? Could I run a 3+ground wire from my control panel, to the spa panel, then to the 3-prong receptacle? Would it be safe, useful, and/or "legit" to connect the ground and neutral at the range plug (and only there)?
3) I really don't have any desire to run back to back batches or both elements at the same time, would it be ok to run a 10gauge/30amp feed from the wall and have a 30 amp slow-blow fuse (or fast acting?) wired up at my power input in the control panel? I'm going to be somewhat far from the outlet, so would love to not have to buy a massive amount of 6ga wire..
Thanks in advance for your help. And thanks to the community for the massive amount of information already out there!
The issue is, my only 240V outlet is an old 3-prong, 50amp Range outlet which is usually plugged into my stove/oven. The way I understand it, the 3 lines in that receptacle are hot/hot/neutral, no separate ground. I am renting, so it's really not an option to route new outlets, new breakers in the main panel, etc.
So the actual questions here:
1) Is GFCI protection even an option from this outlet? I was planning (if it is possible/safe) to buy a spa panel and hook it up between the outlet and my control panel.
2) How do I deal with the no-ground issue? Could I run a 3+ground wire from my control panel, to the spa panel, then to the 3-prong receptacle? Would it be safe, useful, and/or "legit" to connect the ground and neutral at the range plug (and only there)?
3) I really don't have any desire to run back to back batches or both elements at the same time, would it be ok to run a 10gauge/30amp feed from the wall and have a 30 amp slow-blow fuse (or fast acting?) wired up at my power input in the control panel? I'm going to be somewhat far from the outlet, so would love to not have to buy a massive amount of 6ga wire..
Thanks in advance for your help. And thanks to the community for the massive amount of information already out there!