Wiring of parabolic heating elements.
1. I invite the mods to move this to OT; However, there are often some good wiring folks here.
2. I invite the safety police to go away, yeah, I know the rules, but sometimes I drive 5 MPH over the speed limit and happily towed our 27 ft TT for over 10 years with a 1/2 ton Suburban.
3. I have an 800/1200 watt Optimus parabolic heater. The electronics crapped out, but the elements are fine. My goal is to do away with the electronics and put the element in an antique cast iron pot belly stove...see an orange glow through the air vents AND have unique twist on a space heater.
4. Now for the technical part: The elements functioned in a manner that the whole element gets hot whether on 800 or 1200 watts- Dull red or bright orange. (Yes, there are other heaters where the 1000-watt setting uses less coil (thus less resistance, more current, but not this one).
There are connection 3 posts, but four wires.
White (14 ga): Obviously the Neutral leg
Red (14 ga):
Yellow (14 ga) Was labeled as 400W on the circuit board
THIN Red wire (Roughly 18Ga) ? The Thin red wire is co-connected with the regular red wire
My goal is to simply wire it as 1200 Watts On or Off. Not opposed to having the 800/1000 watt option, but I know that will require additional switching.
I have done some internet searching, and have so far come up blank on a diagram.
I'm fully versed in household wiring and almost made some popcorn while reading the recent thread on the guy with the 20A/120/240V plug and 30A/120V plug- Yes, a 50A RV plugged into a proper 50A plug has ~11,000 watts available and 240V "available" whether it uses it or not...If adapted into a 30A RV plug it has 3,600 watts and only 120V is available, so the occasional 220V appliance won't work.
Anyway- if anyone is interested in discussing this- I look forward.
A few years ago, I tried to jury rig a "milk house" heater and discovered that those are wired in series through the fan motor...A quick, very bright orange glow and then the element melted. Note to Safety Police: all of this was done out doors and 3 feet away from me and with circuit breakers in place.
2. I invite the safety police to go away, yeah, I know the rules, but sometimes I drive 5 MPH over the speed limit and happily towed our 27 ft TT for over 10 years with a 1/2 ton Suburban.
3. I have an 800/1200 watt Optimus parabolic heater. The electronics crapped out, but the elements are fine. My goal is to do away with the electronics and put the element in an antique cast iron pot belly stove...see an orange glow through the air vents AND have unique twist on a space heater.
4. Now for the technical part: The elements functioned in a manner that the whole element gets hot whether on 800 or 1200 watts- Dull red or bright orange. (Yes, there are other heaters where the 1000-watt setting uses less coil (thus less resistance, more current, but not this one).
There are connection 3 posts, but four wires.
White (14 ga): Obviously the Neutral leg
Red (14 ga):
Yellow (14 ga) Was labeled as 400W on the circuit board
THIN Red wire (Roughly 18Ga) ? The Thin red wire is co-connected with the regular red wire
My goal is to simply wire it as 1200 Watts On or Off. Not opposed to having the 800/1000 watt option, but I know that will require additional switching.
I have done some internet searching, and have so far come up blank on a diagram.
I'm fully versed in household wiring and almost made some popcorn while reading the recent thread on the guy with the 20A/120/240V plug and 30A/120V plug- Yes, a 50A RV plugged into a proper 50A plug has ~11,000 watts available and 240V "available" whether it uses it or not...If adapted into a 30A RV plug it has 3,600 watts and only 120V is available, so the occasional 220V appliance won't work.
Anyway- if anyone is interested in discussing this- I look forward.
A few years ago, I tried to jury rig a "milk house" heater and discovered that those are wired in series through the fan motor...A quick, very bright orange glow and then the element melted. Note to Safety Police: all of this was done out doors and 3 feet away from me and with circuit breakers in place.
