[Shop-talk] "Smart" garage heater

[Steven Trovato]

PJ,

I was considering doing something similar.  The heater I have keeps 
the fan running for a couple of minutes when the thermostat stops 
calling for heat.  While it can handle having the power cut 
completely, the manufacturer said that doing that repeatedly was bad 
for the heater and could shorten its life.  My plan was instead to 
wire the relay into the line going to the thermostat so it would 
continue to function in the usual way.  The relay being open would be 
the same as the thermostat being open, not calling for 
heat.  Unfortunately, this thought experiment is as far as I have 
gotten.  This project remains on my "maybe I'll get to it someday" list.

-Steve T.

At 09:29 AM 7/2/2021, PJ McGarvey wrote:
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>boundary="_000_TU4PR8401MB04169EFBB6E89119FE1ED5249A1F9TU4PR8401MB0416_"
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>I've recently been enjoying the benefits of adding a smart plug 
>(<https://wyze.com/wyze-plug.html>https://wyze.com/wyze-plug.html) 
>to the AC unit in my detached workshop/garage so I can remotely turn 
>it on and off, and also monitor it using a remote temp/humidity 
>sensor from Govee. Makes it easy to turn on the AC before I decide 
>to go out there, or turn it off if I decide not to. I've also added 
>one to our attic fan for those really hot days.
>
>This has me thinking it would be great to be able to do this with my 
>hardwired electric heater as well for the winter months. I've used 
>this heater for a few years now and find it does a great job to 
>maintain temps but can take a few hours to get the temps up on the 
>colder 
>days: 
><https://www.lowes.com/pd/Comfort-Zone-17065-BTU-Ceiling-Mount-Electric-Fan-Forced-Industrial-Utility-Heater-Furnace-with-Safety-Overheat-Protection/1003054570?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-sol-_-google-_-pla-_--_-sosheatingandcoolers-_-1003054570-_-0&placeholder=null&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8vqGBhC_ARIsADMSd1DJfbgivVS-Z2JpGFJV22vCzRj8CZB6sI-z5FXzgVIAXGz0e0J5bNwaAt0hEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds>https://www.lowes.com/pd/Comfort-Zone-17065-BTU-Ceiling-Mount-Electric-Fan-Forced-Industrial-Utility-Heater-Furnace-with-Safety-Overheat-Protection/1003054570?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-sol-_-google-_-pla-_--_-sosheatingandcoolers-_-1003054570-_-0&placeholder=null&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8vqGBhC_ARIsADMSd1DJfbgivVS-Z2JpGFJV22vCzRj8CZB6sI-z5FXzgVIAXGz0e0J5bNwaAt0hEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
>
>I had been thinking the only way to do it was to add a "smart" 
>breaker to the subpanel I have in the garage but those seem a bit 
>pricey and was wondering if it would be good for the unit to power 
>it on and off repeatedly using the breaker.
>
>I was amazed to find that someone did a nice writeup on adding 
>automation to this exact heater model using some pretty affordable 
>pieces: 
><https://thesmartcave.com/how-to-make-smart-garage-heater/>https://thesmartcave.com/how-to-make-smart-garage-heater/
>
>I have plenty of time to plan this out before cold weather, but was 
>curious if anyone has done something like this, something similar to 
>automate hardwired devices like heaters, or thinks this is a safe 
>way to go about it?
>
>Thx
>PJ


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