Sizing electric heater for garage
 

Don't know if there is a formula for this and I'm not looking for a typical
heat loss calculation. The scenario is this: Garage is 24' X 24' with 12'
ceiling. There is sheetrock and insulation in the ceiling and three walls.
The garage has two standard overhead doors. Temperature is aprox 32 degrees.
I want to raise the temperature to 60 degrees in about one hour. How many
BTU's do I need?


Thanks for any help, Roy

Sizing electric heater for garage
 

On Dec 20, 4:52�pm, "RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:
Don't know if there is a formula for this and I'm not looking for a typical
heat loss calculation. The scenario is this: Garage is 24' X 24' with 12'
ceiling. There is sheetrock and insulation in the ceiling and three walls.
The garage has two standard overhead doors. Temperature is aprox 32 degrees.
I want to raise the temperature to 60 degrees in about one hour. How many
BTU's do I need?

Thanks for any help, Roy

probably cant be done,,,,,,,,,,,,

how big is the amp capacity of the service?

you will probably be better off with a oil or propane heater

Sizing electric heater for garage
 

"RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:

Don't know if there is a formula for this and I'm not looking for a typical
heat loss calculation. The scenario is this: Garage is 24' X 24' with 12'
ceiling. There is sheetrock and insulation in the ceiling and three walls.
The garage has two standard overhead doors. Temperature is aprox 32 degrees.
I want to raise the temperature to 60 degrees in about one hour. How many
BTU's do I need?

Anyone who has the numbers is going to need to know how cold it is
outside-- is it likely to get to 20 below or is 32 the coldest it gets
outside?

How much insulation and how many & what type of windows will also be
needed if this is even doable. Hey- while you're at it- are those
doors new, insulated doors, or 50 yr old aluminum shells?

All that said- I think you're going to want something in a kerosene,
gas or oil heater. My WAG would be something in the 50K BTU
range- that would be about 15000 watts- [62 amps of 240 if my memory
and math serve me]

Electricity has its advantages, but IMO, heating a space up in a hurry
isn't one of them. [though I will say I've never seen an electric
furnace in action- if you're in the TN Valley that might be worth
looking into]

Jim

Sizing electric heater for garage
 

I'm on the same wavelength as you, it seems impractical at best. The
building is fairly new, and well insulated, no windows, with foam filled
aluminum doors. The outdoor temp is 32 degrees.

"Jim Elbrecht" wrote in message
...
"RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:

Don't know if there is a formula for this and I'm not looking for a
typical
heat loss calculation. The scenario is this: Garage is 24' X 24' with 12'
ceiling. There is sheetrock and insulation in the ceiling and three walls.
The garage has two standard overhead doors. Temperature is aprox 32
degrees.
I want to raise the temperature to 60 degrees in about one hour. How many
BTU's do I need?

Anyone who has the numbers is going to need to know how cold it is
outside-- is it likely to get to 20 below or is 32 the coldest it gets
outside?

How much insulation and how many & what type of windows will also be
needed if this is even doable. Hey- while you're at it- are those
doors new, insulated doors, or 50 yr old aluminum shells?

All that said- I think you're going to want something in a kerosene,
gas or oil heater. My WAG would be something in the 50K BTU
range- that would be about 15000 watts- [62 amps of 240 if my memory
and math serve me]

Electricity has its advantages, but IMO, heating a space up in a hurry
isn't one of them. [though I will say I've never seen an electric
furnace in action- if you're in the TN Valley that might be worth
looking into]

Jim

Sizing electric heater for garage
 

RBM rbm2(remove wrote:

... How many BTU's do I need?

The question is "How many Btus PER HOUR do I need?" :-)

Nick

Sizing electric heater for garage
 

I use a"monitor" k-1 heater 40000 btu,my space is 22x32 w/8ft ceilings,1
garage door
this is a direct vent heater.they are also made to use lp/propane gas.
my building is 2x4 construction as well insulated as possible
cost for season runs average. 80 gallons
heat is on at 46 degrees constant with time where i push to 64/66 degrees
for hours or days at a time
I'm very happy with the system


edward
pearl painting
in maine


wrote in message
...
RBM rbm2(remove wrote:

... How many BTU's do I need?

The question is "How many Btus PER HOUR do I need?" :-)

Nick

Sizing electric heater for garage
 

RBM wrote:

Don't know if there is a formula for this and I'm not looking for a typical
heat loss calculation. The scenario is this: Garage is 24' X 24' with 12'
ceiling. There is sheetrock and insulation in the ceiling and three walls.
The garage has two standard overhead doors. Temperature is aprox 32 degrees.
I want to raise the temperature to 60 degrees in about one hour. How many
BTU's do I need?

Thanks for any help, Roy

This:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...6365_200316365

NG and LP versions, and it's a proper vented unit so it doesn't release
combustion gasses and moisture into the heated space.

Sizing electric heater for garage
 

RBM rbm2(remove wrote:

... Garage is 24' X 24' with 12' ceiling. There is sheetrock and insulation
in the ceiling and three walls...

Thermal mass C = 0.5Btu/F/ft^2x2304ft^2 = 1152 Btu/F
for 2304 ft^2 of 1/2" sheetrock.

Temperature is aprox 32 degrees. I want to raise the temperature to
60 degrees in about one hour. How many BTU's do I need?

At least (60F-32F)x1152Btu/F = 32,256, if we could raise the temperature
instantly, with no loss of heat to the outdoors.

With (say) R30 insulation, we have something like this, in a fixed font:

--- R30/2304ft^2 = 0.013 F-h/Btu
|--|--|------------------www--------------- 32 F
--- |
I Btu/h |
--- 1152 Btu/F
---
|
|
-

This is equivalent to:

0.013
-----------www---------- 32-60 F
| |
| Tt = 32+0.013I |
--- --- 1152 Btu/F
- ---
| |
| |
- -

RC = 0.013x1152 = 15 hours and 60 = Tt + (32-Tt)e^(-1/RC)
make I = 33,397 Btu/h, ie 9.8 kW.

Nick

Sizing electric heater for garage
 

RBM rbm2(remove wrote:

... Garage is 24' X 24' with 12' ceiling. There is sheetrock and insulation
in the ceiling and three walls...

With (say) R30 insulation, we have something like this, in a fixed font:

--- R30/2304ft^2 = 0.013 F-h/Btu
|--|--|------------------www--------------- 32 F
--- |
I Btu/h |
--- 1152 Btu/F
---
|
|
-

This is equivalent to:

0.013
-----------www---------- 32-60 F
| |
| Tt = 32+0.013I |
--- --- 1152 Btu/F
- ---
| |
| |
- -

RC = 0.013x1152 = 15 hours and 60 = Tt + (32-Tt)e^(-1/RC) make
I = 33,397 Btu/h, ie 9.8 kW.

Then again, if we insulate the INSIDE of the garage walls with (say)
R9.2 1" foil-polyiso board, we have something like this:

T
--- | R9.2/2304ft^2 = .004 0.013
|--|--|-------------www---------------www--- 32 F
--- |
I Btu/h |Td
--- 1152 Btu/F
---
|
|
-

with the same equivalent circuit above. If T = 60 = Td + 0.004I and
Td = Tt+(32-Tt)e^(-1/RC) = 32+0.000838I, I = 8856 Btu/h, ie 2.6 kW. After
1 hour, the air is 60 F and the drywall behind the insulation is 39 F.

OTOH, with no drywall, just an empty garage with R9.2 foamboard inside
R30 insulation, we'd have something like 0.075lb/ft^3x24x24x12 = 518
pounds of air with C = 518x0.24Btu/F-lb = 124 Btu/F, like this:

0.017
------------------------www---- 32 F
| |
| Tt = 32+0.017I |
--- --- 124 Btu/F
- ---
| |
| |
- -

RC = 0.017x124 = 2.1 hours and 60 = Tt + (32-Tt)e^(-1/RC) make
I = (60-32)/(0.017(1-e^(1/2.1))) = 4372 Btu/h, ie 1.3 kW :-)

Nick

Sizing electric heater for garage
 

On Dec 20, 4:52�pm, "RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:
Don't know if there is a formula for this and I'm not looking for a typical
heat loss calculation. The scenario is this: Garage is 24' X 24' with 12'
ceiling. There is sheetrock and insulation in the ceiling and three walls.
The garage has two standard overhead doors. Temperature is aprox 32 degrees.
I want to raise the temperature to 60 degrees in about one hour. How many
BTU's do I need?

Thanks for any help, Roy

Easiest way is just to run the car for a while... sorry,
couldn't resist. Find it hard to believe you want to do this
electrically, unless, as another suggested, you have super cheap hydro
power. Might want to put foamboard on the doors, improve seals if
warranted.

Sizing electric heater for garage
 

Yikes!!!, Thanks Nick, I think. Well, you're way over my head. I'll go with
your higher figure and recommend something in the 10 KW range. If the guy
really wants to do this electrically, I want to be reasonably sure it'll be
sufficient



wrote in message
...
RBM rbm2(remove wrote:

... Garage is 24' X 24' with 12' ceiling. There is sheetrock and
insulation
in the ceiling and three walls...

With (say) R30 insulation, we have something like this, in a fixed font:

--- R30/2304ft^2 = 0.013 F-h/Btu
|--|--|------------------www--------------- 32 F
--- |
I Btu/h |
--- 1152 Btu/F
---
|
|
-

This is equivalent to:

0.013
-----------www---------- 32-60 F
| |
| Tt = 32+0.013I |
--- --- 1152 Btu/F
- ---
| |
| |
- -

RC = 0.013x1152 = 15 hours and 60 = Tt + (32-Tt)e^(-1/RC) make
I = 33,397 Btu/h, ie 9.8 kW.

Then again, if we insulate the INSIDE of the garage walls with (say)
R9.2 1" foil-polyiso board, we have something like this:

T
--- | R9.2/2304ft^2 = .004 0.013
|--|--|-------------www---------------www--- 32 F
--- |
I Btu/h |Td
--- 1152 Btu/F
---
|
|
-

with the same equivalent circuit above. If T = 60 = Td + 0.004I and
Td = Tt+(32-Tt)e^(-1/RC) = 32+0.000838I, I = 8856 Btu/h, ie 2.6 kW. After
1 hour, the air is 60 F and the drywall behind the insulation is 39 F.

OTOH, with no drywall, just an empty garage with R9.2 foamboard inside
R30 insulation, we'd have something like 0.075lb/ft^3x24x24x12 = 518
pounds of air with C = 518x0.24Btu/F-lb = 124 Btu/F, like this:

0.017
------------------------www---- 32 F
| |
| Tt = 32+0.017I |
--- --- 124 Btu/F
- ---
| |
| |
- -

RC = 0.017x124 = 2.1 hours and 60 = Tt + (32-Tt)e^(-1/RC) make
I = (60-32)/(0.017(1-e^(1/2.1))) = 4372 Btu/h, ie 1.3 kW :-)

Nick