Ski Builders Forum

I know this is a little off topic, but I heard it is better to run MEI heat blankets off of 220 so you dont over power my outlets. Is it possible to do cheaply? I need to know asap because I want to order my blankets asap. Obviously the easiest thing to do for me would be to plug something in to convert it but I dont know. Please help...

Here's a simple way to think about it - Your heat blanket will put out a given power output - I think someone on here said about 3W/in^2 . Electrical power is a function of both voltage and current (p=iv). The reason many people run heat blankets (... and larger machinery, until a three phase motor becomes available/advisable) off of 22VAC power is that doing so provides the same output with a lower current. If you have a 220VAC line, I'd recommend using it for your heat blanket. I didn't at the time, and I ordered a 110VAC heat blanket. I have since run a few 220VAC lines for my dust collector and MIG welder - I need to get in touch with MEI to see if I can run the heat blanket off of these lines without damage to the heating elements (I'm going to control the blanket with an Omega PID).

Reducing the current through a circuit has a significant advantage. As you rightly pointed out, if you pull too much current through a circuit, you'll flip a breaker. It's current that triggers breakers, current that heats up machinery (and your blanket), and current (not voltage) that can be fatal (obviously, voltage and current are related by the resistance, but you can easily put your finger on a peizeo igniter (thousands of volts) without issue. If you're putting any appreciable current through you're body, your toast).

Overall I'd recommend going the 220VAC option. If putting in the line yourself makes you nervous, call an electrician to do it. I'm no electrician, and if I had one I'm sure he'd cringe at the lines I've set up in my shop, but they work.

Hello yanO,

I'm not an electrician either, but I too have wondered about running any of these heat blankets off of 120 volts vs. 240 volts. My general thinking tells me that it should be no problem to run either way. As you so well stated, either voltage would yield the same wattage per sq. in. (or sq. cm.), but the 220 volts would pull (I guess 'push' would be the more electrically accurate term ) half the current. The nickel-chrome wire won't see any heat difference either way, and nor will the silicone blanket... and that's about all there are to these things. But, I could certainly be missing something, so please do report back regarding what you hear from MEI. Thanks.

G-man