Need thermostatic control for my Reddy Heater

[QuickWrench]

I'm just wondering if anyone out there offers an inexpensive thermostat control for a 120VAC Reddy-style Kero/Propane heater. This would simply toggle the AC on/off based on thermostatic control. I can't believe that this doesn't exist.

If not, can anyone offer advice on which Grainger/McMaster-Carr pieces would do the job?

Thanks in advance.

 

[trbo668bird]

Home depot sells a single pole thermostat for 120v that you could wire into an extenstion cord that'll do just what you need. Seems like they are under $20 and are simple enough to to mount and wire.

 

[wagon]

Is this a torpedo style heater? If so, then you don't want to turn off the AC to it. The fuel will shut off once it over heats. At least you hope so.

Brian

 

[QuickWrench]

Is this a torpedo style heater? If so, then you don't want to turn off the AC to it. The fuel will shut off once it over heats.

I don't need a safety-style overheating shutoff, just one to regulate the temperature in the garage. Granted, the heater will shut off if it overheats or runs out of fuel, but that's not what I'm after.

 

[V6DVette]

Originally posted by QuickWrench
I don't need a safety-style overheating shutoff, just one to regulate the temperature in the garage. Granted, the heater will shut off if it overheats or runs out of fuel, but that's not what I'm after.

If its the torpedo style propane one then the answer is no..well not really no, but youd have to replace the control valve and add an ignition/ flame protector relay. They'er manual start/ off for saftey reasons.
I just picked one up with variable BTU output. About as close as you can get to what you want. That is unless you want to just set it and forget it. Then...forget it...


I'm never gonna finish this car!

 

[machinegun]

Ummm, I am missing something here. You plug the heater in to make it run and unplug it to make it stop running. Since this is the case, why can you not just hook up a thermostatic driven 120V switch?

P.S. you can get them from Lowes, Home Depot and other hardware stores. Usually under 40.00 bucks and they work fantastic. However do not take it from me as I am already doing it in a building and my car trailer.

 

[wagon]

Originally posted by QuickWrench
I don't need a safety-style overheating shutoff, just one to regulate the temperature in the garage. Granted, the heater will shut off if it overheats or runs out of fuel, but that's not what I'm after.

No, if you have a torpedo heater like the one that I have, then you can not regulate it with the AC. The only thing the AC is for, is to turn on the fan. The fan blows the heat out of the heater. The instructions probably tell you to shut off the gas before unplugging. You don't want to turn off the fan, since this is what is keeping the flame from setting the paint on the heater on fire. If you were able to get something to regulate the heat on it's own, then you would want something that will regulate the gas flow, not the on off of the fan. It can't shut the gas off though, unless you have what V6DVette suggests, an ignition source. But, you would probably be better off just buying a heater with these features.
Machinegun, I don't see how your setup could work. At least not with the type of heater that I have. However, if it does, more power to ya, but I still wouldn't recommend it, although I do alot of things myself, that others think is crazy, and they work fine too.
Brian

 

[machinegun]

Let me know what model you have heater? I have been to reddy before and they said this was OK. Is yours propane or kerosene?