jeffmeh
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2009
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The good news: I know what I want to do. 5500W element, one PID/SSR, one pump, so I should be able to use a 240V/30A circuit.
The bad news: I thought I had such a circuit, but I do not. It is a 240V/20A breaker in the panel, with 12/2 + ground wire going to a 3-prong dryer outlet, which we do not use.
I plan on brewing either just outside my garage, or just inside in case of inclement weather, as I do today with propane, so I need to be able to move the system out of the way when not in use, bring it outside, bring it inside, etc. The other consideration is that I don't expect to be in this house for too many more years, and would like to keep things as flexible as I can for my next location, or for brewing "outcall" at another location where there is a 4-prong dryer outlet.
Here's what I'm thinking. Please let me know if this makes sense, or if I am missing anything. I am definitely in the camp of those who know just enough about electricity to be dangerous.
The panel is full, so I would remove the 240V/20A breaker and install a 240V/30A breaker and run 10/3 + ground to my garage, terminating at a 4-prong dryer outlet. The run is no more than about 30 feet, so I assume that will not be a problem for 10/3, correct? What is the maximum run before I need to step up the wiring? Should it be in conduit if I'm going to run it along the garage wall? I will probably hire an electrician to do this, but I want to make sure I understand it.
For a GFCI, I would probably go with one in the breaker. Now, if I wanted to brew elsewhere where there is 240V/30A service but no GFCI, I could get one of those GFCI cords. Is there any advantage to going the other way, i.e., do not get a GFCI breaker and use a GFCI cord, and if brewing somewhere where there is 240V/30A GFCI service make up a non-GFCI cord? But I should never run more (or less) than one GFCI, so one in the breaker and one in the cord is a no/no, correct?
Many thanks, ye HBT electric gurus.
The bad news: I thought I had such a circuit, but I do not. It is a 240V/20A breaker in the panel, with 12/2 + ground wire going to a 3-prong dryer outlet, which we do not use.
I plan on brewing either just outside my garage, or just inside in case of inclement weather, as I do today with propane, so I need to be able to move the system out of the way when not in use, bring it outside, bring it inside, etc. The other consideration is that I don't expect to be in this house for too many more years, and would like to keep things as flexible as I can for my next location, or for brewing "outcall" at another location where there is a 4-prong dryer outlet.
Here's what I'm thinking. Please let me know if this makes sense, or if I am missing anything. I am definitely in the camp of those who know just enough about electricity to be dangerous.
The panel is full, so I would remove the 240V/20A breaker and install a 240V/30A breaker and run 10/3 + ground to my garage, terminating at a 4-prong dryer outlet. The run is no more than about 30 feet, so I assume that will not be a problem for 10/3, correct? What is the maximum run before I need to step up the wiring? Should it be in conduit if I'm going to run it along the garage wall? I will probably hire an electrician to do this, but I want to make sure I understand it.
For a GFCI, I would probably go with one in the breaker. Now, if I wanted to brew elsewhere where there is 240V/30A service but no GFCI, I could get one of those GFCI cords. Is there any advantage to going the other way, i.e., do not get a GFCI breaker and use a GFCI cord, and if brewing somewhere where there is 240V/30A GFCI service make up a non-GFCI cord? But I should never run more (or less) than one GFCI, so one in the breaker and one in the cord is a no/no, correct?
Many thanks, ye HBT electric gurus.