From: clewis@ferret.ocunix.on.ca (Chris Lewis)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: new house thermostat needed
Date: 1 Sep 92 12:57:56 GMT
Organization: Elegant Communications Inc., Ottawa, Canada

In article <15210@umd5.umd.edu> bwilliam@oyster.smcm.edu (Bill Williams) writes:
>  Anybody know where I can get a thermostat that'll control 117 VAC
>(preferably by mail-order)?  My son's room is supposed to be heated by a
>baseboard electric heater, but it doesn't work and even when it does it
>just has a "control," not a thermostat.  So, we move a portable
>oil-containing electric heater into his room in the winter.  Since the
>unit is self-contained, its thermostat can only keep the temperature of
>the heater constant, not the temperature of the room.  It would be really
>nice to find a thermostat that I could mount somewhere strategic in the
>room and use it to control the heater.  Any suggestions?

Plug in thermostats (eg: with a 110V plug and socket) are likely to be
pretty rare.  If you really think you need to do this, you'll probably
have to build your own.  You have two choices: wall mounted thermostats
designed for control of baseboards or stand-alone.

Wall thermostats require a junction or receptacle box installed in a
reasonable place on the wall, plus the wiring has to be rerouted to go
through the receptacle.  The unit itself is likely to cost around $20-40US.
This is very standard - none of the baseboards in my place have built-in
thermostats, they're all wall controlled.

For stand-alone, Johnson Controls (as well as many other companies)
make thermostats in enclosures for remote control of things like freezers
and exhaust fans.  Any "real" electrical supplier should be able to
order these.  These come in enclosures, and you could wire a 110V
receptacle and plug into these devices on the end of flexible power
cord (I'd recommend 12ga extra-heavy duty cable).  This would
be a better solution with a portable heater.  They're going to cost
$30-60US.  Make sure that you get one rated for the heater's current
draw.  And don't forget the box clamps!  [I did this for home-built
attic exhaust fan.]

Frankly, however, I don't really think you need to do this.  Baseboards
with integral thermostats *and* standalone space heaters are both
designed knowing that the thermostat is "close" to the heating element.
All things being equal, you should be able to adjust the whole room's
temperature by the thermostat, even though the true thermostat setting
is (perhaps considerably) higher than the desired temperature.

They do rely on air circulation.  I think that's probably your main
problem.  A space heater or baseboard will heat a room perfectly
well *provided* that the airflow is relatively unrestricted.  Is
the baseboard behind drapes?  Under a table?  Behind a sofa or bed?

If you install a remote thermostat, and air circulation is bad,
you'll just end up overheating one end of the room.  I'd rather
be a bit cold than char-broiled.

All things being equal, a baseboard will probably heat better than a
oil-filled radiator (more temperature differential, hence more
heat-induced circulation).

A fan-based space heater would be better still.

Is the baseboard actually "broken"?  Ie: the thermostat doesn't work
at all?  Your best bet there would be to replace the thermostat.  Since
baseboard thermostats are frequently "optional", you should be able to
go to any hardware store that sells baseboards and buy a "conversion"
kit, and replace the existing T-stat.
-- 
Chris Lewis; clewis@ferret.ocunix.on.ca; Phone: Canada 613 832-0541
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