(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Cost to run a 240V 4000w heater

A

Alan K

Well-known Member
Was wondering what it cost to run a 240V 4000w heater? Electric cost in my area is .10 per kWh. I haven't ever run a 240V heater but wondered about one for a small shop to heat for a couple hours in the winter.
 
VOLTS doesn't enter into the equation... You buy power by Watts/KWH.

You stated it is 4KW, so operating it for one hour takes 4KWH X .10 per KWH = 40 cents.
 
Depends upon how much hot water you use. Size the heater to the hot water used. If you use only 5 gal, of hot water per day and have a 50 gal heater, you paid to heat 50 gal.On the other hand if you use a lot of hot water get a big tank. Electric water heaters are slower than gas water heater. I have a two gal water heater in my shop as I only use hot water to wash my hands.
 
4000 watts is 4K watts so at .10 per Kwh(1000 watts per hour) it will cost you .40 per hour to run the heater. Right?
 
Bob has you covered on cost, but I must add that 4000 Watts is only about 13,000 BTU/hr, so it isn't a lot of heat. A small home will have 80,000.
 
I wondered if something like that would be too small. Just happen to see an add that someone had one for sale. Thank you for the replies.
 
Alan:

I heat an entire 40 ft. 5th-wheel travel trailer (350 sq. ft. with tip-outs) all Winter long with just 2 - 120 volt/1500 watt each Quartz Infrared Heaters. I keep the thermostats set so that it's always between 75-80 degrees inside. My average TOTAL electric bill during the Winter months is about $140. .

:>)
 
Alan, the good gents below have you covered on the cost per hour to operate the heater. The obvious reason those type electric heaters run on 240 volts is because it requires less current and therefore smaller gauge wiring. However, the cost and ability and BTU's required to heat any given space depends on the outside temperature, the size of the space to be heated, the insulation etc so we cant help you with that. Thermodynamics wasn't my best subject in EE school, I do remember Heat Lost = Heat Gained lol

John T
 
I don't doubt electric cost will be going up here. They are putting up a new office building :/
 
I can keep a 24x24 well insulated attached garage at 55 with a 1500w baseboard. Insulation is the key. I have insulated garage doors, thermal pane windows, R20 walls, R50 attic and the exterior is bricked. Unless you have brick, you can't imagine how much of a difference thermal mass makes. I use very little AC in summer. Brick keeps house at the average outside temp. Yet to turn my heat on in house too. The house hasn't dropped below 65 yet. Stays closer to 70.

I think for every one KW-Hr= 3413 btu.

It really doesn't make any difference if you are using 120v or 240v a KW-hr is still 3413. Kinda of hard to get 4000w out of 120v.
 
Even down here in TX. a 12x13, 8' ceiling, well insulated,
bedroom will just get by with a 5200 BTU which is the size of a
lot of electric free standing heaters here. If you are in your shop
and sitting at your work bench, it might keep your legs warm.

I use a radiant heater that attaches to the top of my 50# propane
tank. It has 5,10,and 15kBTU settings but with it 3' away the 5k
works ok. So my cost is 5/91,500 x $4.29 = 23 cents per hour.

Price has about doubled on filling smaller tanks. Don't know if
the Amerigas acquisition of all the mom and pop shops around
here had anything to do with it or not.

However I have the tank sitting on a furniture mover dolly and I
can roll it around to wherever I'm working which is real
convenient. Don't have to heat the whole shop.

Mark
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Ultradog MN
Marley electric heater.
Replies
16
Views
587
Geo-TH,In
Geo-TH,In
S
Watering tank immersion heaters
2
Replies
20
Views
1K
Destroked 450
Destroked 450
M
Block heater
Replies
5
Views
254
Michael 1910
M
rustred
shop heat.
Replies
18
Views
1K
buickanddeere
B
Scott 730
Hypothetical sparky question
2
Replies
23
Views
605
Dave G9N
D
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top