Folks;
As usual, I stand in awe of the combined wisdom and experience on this forum. Hope to tap some of it.
The situation is that I am replacing the (awful!) oil furnace that I've McGyver'd along for the last few years with a new electric furnace. (Broan 21B15M) The reasoning is that here in B.C. the electricity is (mostly) hydro generated (aka renewable) and it is an easily maintainable back-up. Also, I need a blower to move the air through my big RSF add-on wood furnace. AND, I hate the continuous stank of oil in the house![shock !!! !!!](/talk/styles/default/xenforo/smileys/shock.gif)
Now, the pickle is that I have a small electric sub-panel that is mechanically interlocked to allow me to power certain loads with either the regular hydro power or my 6500 VA genset. (all legally installed) It is limited by the 30 amp, 2-pole feed and so I cannot power the electric furnace from this panel. Which means, I can't get heat during a power failure. Actually, if the power fails while the wood furnace is stoked, the ducting gets too hot to touch!! Yikes!! So I need a blower.
Therefore I (conceptually) figured out how to run a dedicated 240 vac circuit from the essential panel and add a relay to disable the heating elements, power the low-voltage controls and thermostat, and power the blower if needed by the wood furnace. However, this kills the factory warranty, inspection approvals, and CSA / ULC approvals for modifying a factory approved device. Has anyone encountered this problem and figured out a legal and safe work-around that will keep the insurance valid (and the wife happy!)??????
Thanks for ANY help. Cheers.
As usual, I stand in awe of the combined wisdom and experience on this forum. Hope to tap some of it.
The situation is that I am replacing the (awful!) oil furnace that I've McGyver'd along for the last few years with a new electric furnace. (Broan 21B15M) The reasoning is that here in B.C. the electricity is (mostly) hydro generated (aka renewable) and it is an easily maintainable back-up. Also, I need a blower to move the air through my big RSF add-on wood furnace. AND, I hate the continuous stank of oil in the house
![shock !!! !!!](/talk/styles/default/xenforo/smileys/shock.gif)
Now, the pickle is that I have a small electric sub-panel that is mechanically interlocked to allow me to power certain loads with either the regular hydro power or my 6500 VA genset. (all legally installed) It is limited by the 30 amp, 2-pole feed and so I cannot power the electric furnace from this panel. Which means, I can't get heat during a power failure. Actually, if the power fails while the wood furnace is stoked, the ducting gets too hot to touch!! Yikes!! So I need a blower.
Therefore I (conceptually) figured out how to run a dedicated 240 vac circuit from the essential panel and add a relay to disable the heating elements, power the low-voltage controls and thermostat, and power the blower if needed by the wood furnace. However, this kills the factory warranty, inspection approvals, and CSA / ULC approvals for modifying a factory approved device. Has anyone encountered this problem and figured out a legal and safe work-around that will keep the insurance valid (and the wife happy!)??????
Thanks for ANY help. Cheers.