Question for the Electrically Inclined

[BGreene]

Hi. New to the sport, just doing my basic research, and getting gear in order. There is a TON I do not know, and I'm taking the long term approach and reading everything I can. Despite a search of the archives, I cannot find a experiential answer to this question:

I'm creating a 13 gallon boiler, which I prefer to heat electrically. I will very likely distill washes in the 10-11 gallon range, maximum. In the area where I intend to work, I already have a dedicated 220v outlet, on a 20-amp breaker. A licensed electrician ran that for me, but I think he ran two 110v wires to that box to create the 220v.

I do not know what the size of the wire running to that outlet is, but the receptacle is a NEMA 6-20R. Based on a couple of Ohm calculators I've seen on the web, it appears the maximum heating element I should run is a 4000w.

My question: unless I ran more appropriate wire, and increased the breaker capacity and receptacle, am I stuck with what I have? Truth is, a 4000w heating element (or lower) might very well handle 10 gallons of wash without any issue. Perhaps I'm over thinking this?

Thanks to anyone willing to chime in.

Bill

[jedneck]

I run a keg on a 3000 watt element. I loose a little time on heat up but it runs without a controller. I'm sure that folk more knowledgeable than me will chime in.

[ben stiller]

Can't help with the size of the element you can run but can tell you 4000 watts will handle your size boiler. Will give up a bit of heating time compared to a 5500 watt,but once up to temp you will need a controller to back the voltage down. Many threads here to build your own or buy the eBay 10,000 watt scr controller like some of us did. I could not be happerier with mine for the 18 bux spent.

[T-Pee]

Run it. You're fine. Keep the cord under 50' long.

tp

[Soggy Bottom Boy]

Why only a 20 amp breaker?

[rad14701]

Why only a 20 amp breaker?

I already have a dedicated 220v outlet, on a 20-amp breaker. A licensed electrician ran that for me, but I think he ran two 110v wires to that box to create the 220v.

Not sure a licensed electrician would do that but it would explain why the limitation is 20A due to the gauge of the wire...

[BGreene]

Thanks greatly everyone. The dedicated 220v circuit was for a single 5hp dust collector motor (220v) that I use in my woodworking shop for central vacuum. I honestly don't know why it's "only" a 20amp breaker...I was hoping it was a 30. Maybe I need to investigate more. But I do know this: after some more reading the Nema 6-20R receptacle definitely has a 20amp limitation, and the breaker is a 20amp also. So I think the wire must be as well. And the electrician was a well-referenced guy here in my hometown.

Unless further investigation indicates otherwise, I'm sticking with a lower amperage element.

Bill

[Red Rim]

Your wire size is what is important. If he put a 20 amp breaker, it should be 12 gauge wire. If it is 10 gauge, it can handle a 30 amp breaker and would be able to handle a higher wattage element like a 5500.
Hope this helps.

Edit; check out Jimbo's electric conversion thread. It has all you need to know for controllers and solid electrical guidance.

[shadylane]

A 4kw heater is more than big enough.
A little bit of extra heat up time is better than spending time cleaning up the column after the still pukes.

[skow69]

The dedicated 220v circuit was for a single 5hp dust collector motor (220v) that I use in my woodworking shop for central vacuum. I honestly don't know why it's "only" a 20amp breaker.

Your 5 hp motor didn't require more than 20 amps. 12 awg wire is much cheaper and much easier to work with than 10 awg. A 30 amp circuit would have added unnecessary expense for no benefit.

A licensed electrician ran that for me, but I think he ran two 110v wires to that box to create the 220v.

In the U.S. 220 is always created by combining 2 legs of 110 that are 180 degrees out of phase. That is the only way it can be created in a residential installation.

It sounds to me like your electrician did everything exactly right.

[rad14701]

It sounds to me like your electrician did everything exactly right.

Not exactly... It depends on whether the licensed electrician was on the clock or moonlighting... Sounds like he ran two pieces of Romex rather than a single higher rated cable... Hard to say by the OP's description...