can it be wired to plug into a dryer hookup and if so how

donf

The answer is yes, maybe.

You need to know the amperage needed by the dryer, the amperage used by the heater. The size of the conductors already in the wall, the size of the breaker.

Washington1

Hun!? Can a 240V Wall heater be wired to Plug into a dryer outlet. I've never heard of such a thing!!!????

Can someone clarify this for me???

Donf,

you answered yes. Have you seen a wall heater that can be supplied with a dryer configured plug and cord--so it can be plugged into a dryer outlet???

Maybe the op asked the question wrong!?

tkrussell

Seems Don covered himself by stating "maybe".

More detail about the heater would have been helpful.

"Wall Heater" implies that the heater is permenently mounted to the wall, otherwise known as Fixed Space Heat, as defined by Article 424 of the NEC.

In this case, cord and plug connection for a fixed space heater would not be allowed, as there are no provisions for this method in Art 424. Only hardwired connection of a cable, or conduit would be allowed.

Installing a cord on a fixed unit would violate the UL listing of the unit heater, along with NEC, unless the manufacturer gives specific instructions of how to add a cord and plug to the heater, which I doubt exists.

If the unit is portable, then it must not be greater than 6240 watts, so as not to exceed 26 amps, the max load on a 30 amp circuit, assuming the existing dryer outlet and circuit is the typical dryer circuit.

As long as the cord and plug match the circuit rating of the dryer outlet and circuit, and the heater load is less than 6240 watts, and the heater is furnished with the proper cord and plug, or includes instructions to add a cord and plug, then all should be fine to connect a portable heater to the dryer outlet.

I beleive the unit is desigend and intended to be permenently installed, therefore cord and plug connection is out of the questions.

donf

Without knowing exactly what the OP is doing, I applied guesswork.

I almost always try to avoid assumptions, for obvious reasons, but my response was actually based on one prime assumption.

The heater was being removed from the dedicated circuit and a receptacle was replacing the heater. If that is true (Hence the "Maybe" from previous post), then if the wiring and breaker are a match for the dryer's amperage and conductors then install the receptacle for the dryer.

Otherwise, the entire branch circuit would have to re-installed.

Hum, did I also assume that the OP has enough intelligence to understand that it is one or the other on the dedicated branch circuit?

tkrussell

Seemed to me very clear,

Your recent statement:
The heater was being removed from the dedicated circuit and a receptacle was replacing the heater.

really is "reading between the lines".

While your original questions were very valid, it did not address the issues I brought up, and caused your questions to be secondary.

The word dedicated is not defined nor addressed by the NEC. just because an outlet for a dryer may say Dryer on the outlet, panel, or the box it was bought in, does not mean something that is rated 240 volts and of the proper amperage could not use the same circuit and outlet.

Electric heat is a very serious device, as illustrated by having it's own code section, and the connection must meet this code and UL listings. Corded electric heat must be purchased as such, and not created or modified in the field.

donf

TK,

Okay, so I went the wrong way based on bad reasoning. Thanks for helping me out. I could not imagine anyone not understanding you could have one but not the other on that particular branch circuit.

Would it have be safer to say; "No, you need to run an "individual" branch circuit for your dryer, based on current NEC codes"?

tkrussell

All I did was zone in on the actual question "plug into a dryer outlet".

Your proposed answer still could imply to allow a unit to be cord connected that should not be.

All I can suggest is to ask the right questions or be dead on with the advice.

I sure hope Washington sees this, he is probably out putting cords on all the heat in his stock. Lol, only kidding big W.

Washington1

How did you know.

donf

Oh DIRTY WORDS, I hate the woodshed!