How do you wire a 120v Baseboard Heater?
- Connect one supply wire to one heater wire.
- Connect remaining supply wire to remaining heater wire.
- Replace wiring compartment cover and secure with screw previously removed.
- Turn power back on at the electrical panel board.
How do you install an electric baseboard heater?
Install the heater. Strip 5/8 in. of insulation from each wire's end, then connect the black and taped white wires to the black heater wires using wire connectors. Connect the cable's bare ground wire to the green heater ground wire. Push the heater into the can and fasten it.
What are the pros of using a baseboard heater?
Cut back on winter heating costs by using your system efficiently
- Baseboard heaters are often located under windows because it's more efficient that way. ...
- Heat rises – and so do your energy costs, for every degree above 20°C. ...
- Cranking the thermostat doesn't warm up the room any faster. ...
- Now that they're more widely available, you can get a smart thermostat that works with baseboard heaters. ...
How do I install baseboard heating?
- 2 Remove Old Baseboards. Cut away the old paint and caulk along the top edge of the trim. ...
- 3 Tools and Supplies to Install Baseboards. ...
- 4 Preparing to Install Baseboards. ...
- 5 Leveling. ...
- 6 Scribing. ...
- 7 Outside Corner Cuts. ...
- 9 Scarf and Butt Joints. ...
- 10 Problems. ...
- 11 Finishing. ...
How should I install a thermostat for a baseboard heater?
- Start to finish 1 hr
- Difficulty Kind of Easy
- Involves Electrical Skills
Can baseboard heaters be 120V?
Baseboard heaters come in two styles, 120-volt or 240-volt heating styles. Although 120-volt baseboard heaters are the popular choice because it uses only a single circuit, 240-volt baseboard heaters are much more efficient because they utilize both legs of power, cutting the power demand sometimes in half.
How do you wire electric baseboard heat?
0:251:43How to Wire a Baseboard Heater - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe had a neutral wire. Which is your black wire. And then you also got your green wire just buriedMoreWe had a neutral wire. Which is your black wire. And then you also got your green wire just buried back in here a little bit farther which is your ground wire now for this to work properly.
Why is a 120 volt heater wired as 240 volts a problem?
This is especially dangerous if you install a 120-volt heater where there is a 240-volt circuit. The heater will end up producing up to 4 times more heat than it was designed to (for example, your 1,000-watt heater will max up to 4,000 watts in output).
How many amps does a 120 volt baseboard heater use?
At 120V, a 3,000 W baseboard heater draws 25 amps.
How do you tell if your baseboard heater is 120 or 240?
Just look and if you see one black wire coming in and one going out, it's a 120-volt heater. If you see two wires coming in — one black and one red — and two wires of the same colors going out, it's a 240-volt heater.
Can you wire a baseboard heater on either side?
Wire connections can be made on either side of the baseboard heater.
Can wires touch baseboard heaters?
Electrical codes typically do not prohibit installing heaters below wall outlets, but most heater manufacturers recommend against it. The concern is that a cord plugged into the outlet will drape down onto the heater.
What happens when 120V is plugged into 240V?
With heat doubled than that the 240 v appliance can carry, the appliance will overheat, melt, or explode, or burn.
How do you wire a 240 volt baseboard heater?
0:161:29How to install a Double Pole 240 Volt Baseboard Mount ThermostatYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUsing wire connectors connect one of the black thermostat wires to one of the heater wires. ThenMoreUsing wire connectors connect one of the black thermostat wires to one of the heater wires. Then connect the remaining black thermostat wire to the remaining heater wire.
What wire do you use for baseboard heaters?
12-gauge cableA 240-volt baseboard heater requires its own dedicated 20-amp or 30-amp 240-volt electrical circuit. A 20-amp circuit can safely provide 3,800 watts of power, while a 30-amp circuit is suitable for up to 5,700 watts. The standard circuit cable for 20-amp circuits is 12-gauge cable; 30-amp circuits need 10-gauge cable.
What size breaker do I need for a baseboard heater?
Sizing the Heating CircuitAMPSVOLTSCIRCUIT PROTECTION1612020 Amp - 1-Pole1224015 Amp - 2-Pole1624020 Amp - 2-Pole2424030 Amp - 2-Pole5 more rows
What's the difference between 120 volt and 240 volt?
So, what's the difference between the two types of outlets? A standard 120V outlet contains a 120 volt wire and a neutral wire, and preferably a grounding wire. A 240V outlet has two 120 volt wires and a neutral wire.
What brand of baseboard heaters are hardwired?
Installing a baseboard heater is simple. There are two brands that we carry requiring hardwire installation, Cadet and QMark. First, we'll review Cadet.
How much clearance between heater and molding?
If need be, remove molding. If you want to replace the molding after installation, be sure to allow 1/16" clearance between the heater's end and the molding. Do not install heater beneath an electrical outlet. The heater may sit directly on any floor surface, including carpet.
What is the wire number for thermostat wires?
Connect one supply wire to one thermostat wire marked L1.
Where does a heater sit on a carpet?
The heater may sit directly on any floor surface, including carpet. Do not allow the carpet to block lower air intake located 1 inch from the bottom. Be sure it is clear of all obstructions and that there is a 12 inch clearance between the heater and drapes.
Where to turn power back on?
Turn power back on at the electrical panel board.
What is the best form of supplemental heating?
Winter's on the way and one of the most popular forms of supplemental heating is a baseboard heater. Not only are they effective but they're so subtle and provide an even flow of heat most people have come to appreciate. Some of the benefits include: Installing a baseboard heater is simple.
How Do You Wire Multiple Baseboard Heaters?
When wiring multiple baseboard heater be careful of circuit loading. Do not exceed 80 percent of the circuits capacity. The wires themselves usually run from heater to heater.
Where is the ground wire on a heater?
Connecting L1 and L2 to the heater is a simple process. Make sure the ground wire is connected to the back of the heater.
How Long Are The Different Size Heaters?
Electric baseboard heaters come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on your application.
What About Those Space Saver Heaters?
A few years ago some companies decided to come out with a baseboard style heater to shorten its length.
Does A Baseboard Heater Need To Be A Dedicated Circuit?
Yes, all electric baseboard heater should be on a dedicated circuit. It should be clearly marked at the source or panel as to what its for.
How many volts should a thermostat be on?
You can test from the red to the black wire and you should get 240 volt with the thermostat on. This is done before you shut the power off.
How many amps does a double pole heater need?
Look at the panel look for the circuit marked heater and shut it off. It will most likely be a double pole 20 amp circuit.
Where to install cable connector for heater?
Install the appropriate cable connector in the desired end of the heater (s).
What wire to connect to a loose heater?
Connect one of the loose heater wires (does not matter which) to the black wire (s).
How many amps does a 240 volt heater carry?
The National Electrical Code allows a 15 amp circuit to carry up to 12 amps, and a 20 amp circuit may carry up to 16 amps.
Where should a thermostat be located?
Determine a location for the thermostat. The thermostat should be located on an interior wall. It should never be located above a heater or other heat source, or in a dead air space such as behind a door.
How many watts does a room need?
A room that ideally requires 1500 watts of heat might need as much as 3000 watts if it suffers from all the issues listed above. This applies to ALL types of heat (and cooling in the summer for that matter), regardless of fuel type or technology. Insulation is inexpensive over the long run. ...
How many watts per foot is HD heat?
There is one other type of heat called "high density" (HD). HD heat has more than the 250 watts per foot that the standard density heat has, but does not heat quicker nor is operated for any less. HD merely provides more heat with a smaller footprint. ...
Where is the heater pipe installed?
The casing is normally mounted along the wall above the floor, and the heater pipe is installed inside a few inches above the floor level. The heat shield (casing) keeps the heat adequately away from the carpeting. (You should read and follow all manufacturer's installation instructions and guidelines though.)
What is the white wire on a baseboard heater?
If you are wiring a 120-volt baseboard heater, however, the white wire in the circuit will be a true neutral wire. This white wire will not be connected to the thermostat, but instead will connect to the white neutral wire passing on to the baseboard heater.
How many wires does a thermostat need to control a baseboard heater?
This usually involves two supply wires from the power source and two wires passing onward to the heater. If the thermostat is controlling two baseboard heaters from the same location, there will be additional outgoing wires leading to the other heater. The Spruce / Kevin Norris.
How to connect thermostat to heater?
Connect the wire lead on the thermostat marked "Load" to the black outdoing wire (s) leading to the heater (s), using a wire connector.
How to connect two wires to a thermostat?
Use wire connectors to join the two feed wires entering the box from the power source to the wire leads on the thermostat marked "Line." In most 240-volt wiring situations, the circuit wires will be black and white; it doesn't make any difference which wire lead gets attached to which feed wire, as both are hot.
How to strip insulation from thermostat?
Using wire strippers, strip about 3/4-inch of insulation from each insulated circuit wire entering the thermostat's electrical box, if necessary. This usually involves two supply wires from the power source and two wires passing onward to the heater. If the thermostat is controlling two baseboard heaters from the same location, there will be additional outgoing wires leading to the other heater.
How many wires does a thermostat have?
The thermostat has a total of four wire leads: two marked "Line" that connect to the circuit feed wires entering the box from the circuit breaker panel, and two marked "Load" that connect to the circuit wires that run onward to the heater. The thermostat's wire leads are often red and black, a color-coding that indicates ...
What is a single pole thermostat?
In single-pole thermostats, only one of the two hot wires entering the thermostat box is attached to the thermostat , and the other wire bypasses the thermostat box and continues to the baseboard heater. This means that the baseboard will always have current flowing into it.
What Kind Of Wire Do I Need For A Baseboard Heater?
If you are installing a baseboard heater in a drywall wood frame constructed area. You can simply run the NMD non-metallic type dry wire.
When to wire baseboard heaters in parallel?
Wiring baseboard heaters in parallel is when you will get into the importance of amps and not exceeding them. It is important not to go over the 80 percent circuit rating.
What Size Breaker Does The Wire Need To Be On?
Typically you will need to have the wire connected to a 20 amp breaker.
What Happens If The Wire Is Too Small For The Heater?
If the wire is too small for the heater then it will simply blow the fuse or trip the breaker.
How many watts can a 30 amp wire hold?
The rule applies to all types of wire sizes. For example a 30 amp circuit would be 24 amps. 24 amps multiplied by 240 volt is a maximum of 6000 watts loaded on the circuit.
How many watts is 24 A?
24 A on a 30 amp circuit safe to convert that to watch you would simply take your voltage time your amperage which equals watts. You can see 3840 Watts on a 20 amp circuit. This can be a number of heaters that you hook into the circuit to equal to 3840 watt.
How many watts can you use on a 20 amp circuit?
You can only load the circuit up to 16 amps which is actually 3840 watts of electricity.
How to calculate the amperage of a baseboard heater?
Multiply the 1,500 watts times 3 for a total of 4,500 watts. Find the total amperage by dividing the wattage by the voltage (a = w/v). The amperage draw for the three heaters is 18.75 amperes. These three baseboard heaters can be connected to a two-pole 30-amp breaker that is supplying power to the heaters with a two-wire 10-gauge ROMEX® cable-type wire.
How many gauges of romex wires are in a baseboard heater?
Connect the wires in the same fashion to the second baseboard heater. There will only be one 10-gauge ROMEX® in the third baseboard heater. Connect these wires directly, one each, to the two wires going to the heating element. Be sure all three heaters have the bare copper wire attached to the green screw on the metal frame of the heater.
How to remove the cover of a circuit breaker box?
Find the large switch labeled as "main". Turn it off. Remove the outer cover by using the screwdriver and pulling the screws that holds the cover in place.
Where are baseboard heaters used?
Image Credit: Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images. Baseboard heaters are generally used in rooms that may be far from the central heating source. These electric heaters are positioned under windows, where falling colder air will mix with the heaters' rising warmer air and circulate throughout the room.
Do baseboard heaters have thermostats?
Various manufacturers will have different installation instructions for these devices. Many baseboard heaters will have the thermostats built into the heaters and already connected.
Do you need to follow the manufacturer's instructions for a baseboard heater?
Follow the manufacturer's instructions if you are installing separate baseboard heater thermostats. Various manufacturers will have different installation instructions for these devices. Many baseboard heaters will have the thermostats built into the heaters and already connected. Follow all local electrical regulations whenever installing any type of electrical equipment.
