Welcome to "da boards", skot. Quite an interesting dilemma you have there. I don't know if it's possible, but can you just change the circuit breaker that goes out to the garage? That's meaning to say.... if there's currently a 15-Amp breaker on there now, will the landlord let you install a 20 amp? Is there enough amperage in the panel itself to allow yet another breaker installed and you running a new line out there? You never mentioned if it was a complex you live in, or just a multi-family. Also.... what kind of person/people is your landlord. If you told him straight out "listen.... I want to use the garage (a structure that I'm paying rent on and should be able to use) for a hobby of mine and I need some power, it's non-toxic and safe and makes relatively little noise... can we do something about getting a little power out there"... would he help you with it, or at the very least not mind? If he's hooked up to the internet, SHOW him what you've found so that he feels at least a little bit re-assured his investment won't be blown to bits,lol. Perhaps he/she may like it and want to do it as well... therefore making your situation easier to deal with. Who knows, maybe your landlord may even have things for you to work on (heat registers, hinges, etc) and that would make it easier to get what you want out of this situation? I dunno..... it's a question of power, per se. In your instance.... if you are NOT able to have an oven, the IR lamp is your basic next logical step. You just basically have to do and find out a few things in order to advance, in my opinion....
1) Tell your landlord what yo are doing. Don't do anything on the sly. They hate tyhat and it's only fair because it's not dangerous and they might find it useful for themselves as well (leaving it easier for you to bargain out some power).
2) Is the electrical panel suited for some more power useage? Sometimes in an older structure 100A service is in place and quite a bit of the resources are already spoken for.
3) Is a 15A circuit breaker in the place of the garage line? You can switch it over to a 20A and end a few tripping issues, I'd think.
4) Is there room for another circuit breaker in the panel to run another line to the garage? Tell the landlord you'll do it at your expense (they love that sorta thing and romex and breakers are cheap). If all of the above looks good, it's a viable way to go.
Answer the above questions to yourself (and here if you don't mind) and I have no doubt we'll be narrowing down the best direction you can take. I have no doubt your'll be able to powder coat. It may be difficult and you might have to make a few exceptions (turn this off while using that) but it doesn't sound impossible..... Russ
|