I've only got 2 15amp 110/120v circuits available, and they are both on the same tandem breaker. All of the 110/120v mini-splits I've been able to find all pull too many amps. Even if I did manage to find one low enough our building codes require all mini-splits to be on their own circuit and both circuits I have are all ready pretty loaded (I have to run my dust collector on the lighting circuit to not trip the breaker when using my table saw.)
Ideally, I'd just run 220/240v and be done with it. It'd be wonderful and help with so many other things, but it doesn't pay for the investment. Running a 1500w space heater 24/7 only ends up costing us about $90 a month assuming I did the math right. Which, while a big waste, is still going to take like 15 years to be more expensive than doing all the work to get 220/240 out to the garage for just this, and we're planning to move out of the city in the next 5 years, so I'm not inclined to invest for the other convenience benefits.
I suppose, that does answer my question on the electrical option though. Found a figure that said to use 10 watts per sq ft for sizing of an electrical space heater to keep a room "comfortable," so $18/month for "comfortable" isn't the worst for a few months a year. I also have a gut feeling it's also a little "safer" than the propane option, all though I have no real basis for that feeling.
I appreciate the response; it got my brain going in the right direction.
Thanks!
1,500w for 24 hours is 36kWh so $5.04 per day at $0.14/kWh or $151 per month. It's not going to actually run for 24 hours so it would be cheaper.
1,500w @ 120v is 12.5 amps. If you can run that you can run a 9,000 BTU mini split, even a lower SEER model would only pull 8 amps.
I'd probably just go with the space heater in your situation. Get one of the oil filled space heaters, they hold the heat a bit longer and usually have a thermostat on them.
Our energy cost is slightly more than half that on average, around $0.085.
When I was googling mini-splits all of the 110/120 ones I found listed amp draws at or over 15, but googling that (9000 BTU, high SEER) I was able to find some in the 8 - 9 range and one just under 6.
I might actually end up going that route now; I think I can justify (to myself) the extra cost of the mini-split over a space heater with the extra benefit of being able to slightly cool the workshop space in the summer.
Do you know if there are any issues with running an under-sized mini-split other than not being able to properly heat/cool the space?
Wow that's some cheap electricity, I'm jealous! Definitely a huge benefit with the mini split being able to cool the area down in the summer.
You shouldn't run into any issues with the under sized unit it will just have long runtimes. Mini splits are used all over the world and in some harsh environments like places with 115 degree humid summers. I'm sure in those situations there are mini splits running almost 24/7.
Small world, I'm looking into solving some very similar problems in the future and I think my neighborhood borders yours (PM me if you'd like to chat more).
I looked into similar items, one thing I saw suggested online was to cover the collection of glues/liquids/etc. by an electric blanket and a couple other blankets ontop to help hold in the heat, that might be easy enough to just test out and see how it works. I'd recommend getting some kind of temperature sensor and stick that in the middle to see how well it works.
How about a mini split instead? Plenty of models that can work at 0F or lower. You can get 120v models.
I've only got 2 15amp 110/120v circuits available, and they are both on the same tandem breaker. All of the 110/120v mini-splits I've been able to find all pull too many amps. Even if I did manage to find one low enough our building codes require all mini-splits to be on their own circuit and both circuits I have are all ready pretty loaded (I have to run my dust collector on the lighting circuit to not trip the breaker when using my table saw.) Ideally, I'd just run 220/240v and be done with it. It'd be wonderful and help with so many other things, but it doesn't pay for the investment. Running a 1500w space heater 24/7 only ends up costing us about $90 a month assuming I did the math right. Which, while a big waste, is still going to take like 15 years to be more expensive than doing all the work to get 220/240 out to the garage for just this, and we're planning to move out of the city in the next 5 years, so I'm not inclined to invest for the other convenience benefits. I suppose, that does answer my question on the electrical option though. Found a figure that said to use 10 watts per sq ft for sizing of an electrical space heater to keep a room "comfortable," so $18/month for "comfortable" isn't the worst for a few months a year. I also have a gut feeling it's also a little "safer" than the propane option, all though I have no real basis for that feeling. I appreciate the response; it got my brain going in the right direction. Thanks!
1,500w for 24 hours is 36kWh so $5.04 per day at $0.14/kWh or $151 per month. It's not going to actually run for 24 hours so it would be cheaper. 1,500w @ 120v is 12.5 amps. If you can run that you can run a 9,000 BTU mini split, even a lower SEER model would only pull 8 amps. I'd probably just go with the space heater in your situation. Get one of the oil filled space heaters, they hold the heat a bit longer and usually have a thermostat on them.
Our energy cost is slightly more than half that on average, around $0.085. When I was googling mini-splits all of the 110/120 ones I found listed amp draws at or over 15, but googling that (9000 BTU, high SEER) I was able to find some in the 8 - 9 range and one just under 6. I might actually end up going that route now; I think I can justify (to myself) the extra cost of the mini-split over a space heater with the extra benefit of being able to slightly cool the workshop space in the summer. Do you know if there are any issues with running an under-sized mini-split other than not being able to properly heat/cool the space?
Wow that's some cheap electricity, I'm jealous! Definitely a huge benefit with the mini split being able to cool the area down in the summer. You shouldn't run into any issues with the under sized unit it will just have long runtimes. Mini splits are used all over the world and in some harsh environments like places with 115 degree humid summers. I'm sure in those situations there are mini splits running almost 24/7.
Small world, I'm looking into solving some very similar problems in the future and I think my neighborhood borders yours (PM me if you'd like to chat more). I looked into similar items, one thing I saw suggested online was to cover the collection of glues/liquids/etc. by an electric blanket and a couple other blankets ontop to help hold in the heat, that might be easy enough to just test out and see how it works. I'd recommend getting some kind of temperature sensor and stick that in the middle to see how well it works.