[Jimmyjim]

Hi there! My sauna heater is 5kw or 20.8 amps at 240volt. I bought a 120 V 20 amp digital timer switch from Home Depot. From the two pole 30amp breaker at the panel, of the two wires, I connected one circuit to the 120v digital switch and one circuit goes to the plug that the heater plugs into. "It goes live from the panel to the plug where the heater plugs into"
I know this is probley not the right way to do it... But the digital timer makes it so easy to use.
Is this really bad? Should I buy a 4 pole 240v 30amp timer?

Thanks

 

[rjniles]

Not to worry, your timer will burn out in short order. Then you can buy the right one😜

 

[Jimmyjim]

Lol. Is the switch overlaoded? As in amps or voltage?

 

[rjniles]

Most digital timers require a neutral, do you have a neutral?

 

[Jimmyjim]

Yup, Theres a neutral but it's tied onto the lighting neautal.
The switch has a in/out load side. Ground, and neutral.

 

[joed]

You have a 20 amp rated switch switching 20.8 amps. It is slightly overloaded. Best to not switches that close to the actual load.

 

[rjniles]

Yup, Theres a neutral but it's tied onto the lighting neautal.
The switch has a in/out load side. Ground, and neutral.

Using a neutral from another circuit is a code violation. Unless you want to run a new circuit with a neutral, a mechanical timer would be a better choice.

 

[Jimmyjim]

I get its against code but Its like 3ma, prob tie it to ground and be fine.
Why is the switch overloaded?

 

[rjniles]

I get its against code but Its like 3ma, prob tie it to ground and be fine.
Why is the switch overloaded?

Why did you bother to ask since you will do as you want😥 And it is dangerous in addition to being a code violation. Ground conductors are for fault currents only.

 

[joed]

Why is the switch overloaded?

Because it's a 20 amp switch and you stated the load was 20.8 amp.