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how do you wire two baseboard heaters

by Ms. Paula Kemmer DDS Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

How do you wire two baseboard heaters?

  • Understand that only like voltage heaters can be connected together.
  • Calculate the total amperage draw from the heaters in a room.
  • Remove all electrical power from the main panel circuit breaker box.
  • Install the new two-pole 30-ampere circuit breaker into the main panel box.

Connecting the heaters in series means that one of the wires from the power source (the thermostat) goes on one end of the first heater, the other end of that first heater is connected to one end of the second heater, and the last end is connected back to the power source.Mar 29, 2013

Full Answer

How do you wire two baseboard heaters to one thermostat?

When to Call a Professional

  • Attach a Wire Nut to Ground and White Wires. ...
  • Wire-Nut One Hot Wire to Bypass the Thermostat. ...
  • Attach the Line and Load Black Wire to Thermostat. ...
  • Push the Green, White, and Red Wires Into the Box. ...
  • Line up the Screws on the Box. ...
  • Screw the Thermostat Into the Box. ...

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.

Can you connect two heaters in series?

The classic example is where we have a two piece heater. Each half of the heater has half the wattage and the same voltage. Thus, these can be connected in series and they will divide the voltage equally. Thus, you CAN connect two heaters in series ONLY if they have the same voltage AND the same wattage.

How to wire a 240V electric baseboard heater?

Things You'll Need

  • Phillips head screwdriver
  • Wire nuts
  • Electrical tape
  • Single-pole heater-mounted thermostat

Can you wire 2 baseboard heaters together?

In most all cases, multiple baseboard heaters can be connected together if the total operational amperage does not exceed the wires and circuit breaker's capacity. If the heater is too large it must be wired on a separate circuit.

How many baseboard heaters can you have on a circuit?

A circuit running on a 20-amp double-pole breaker can have any combination of heaters up to 3,840 watt. You can install two 1,500 watt heaters if you use just one thermostat. There are three 1,000 watt heaters.

How many heaters can I put on one circuit?

If you use 240V baseboard heaters, the 20-amp circuit can support a net total of 4,800 W. That's two 2,000 W baseboard heaters or three 1,500 W baseboard heaters. In short, a 20-amp circuit can handle anywhere from 2,400 W to 4,800 W of baseboard heater electric power input. It all depends on the voltage.

How many baseboard heaters can I put on a 30 amp circuit?

Re: Baseboard heater 240volt 10/2 wire 30 amp With a 30amp breaker on a 240 v circuit you should be fine up to a total of 6120 watts so I would imagine you will be fine unless it is a massive heater you are installing.

How do you wire two baseboard heaters in parallel?

Connecting the heaters in parallel means that essentially the two wires coming from the power source (the thermostat) go to the two ends of the first heater, and the same two wires then continue on and are connected to the two ends of the second heater as well.

Can one thermostat control two baseboard heaters?

The short answer is YES, you can wire multiple heaters to one thermostat, but it depends on several factors to ensure your circuit can handle the load.

Does a baseboard heater need a dedicated circuit?

240-volt baseboard heaters are in need of a dedicated circuit to supply enough power for proper functionality. The general rule of thumb is that baseboard heaters need a 20-amp circuit that requires a 12-gauge wire for either type heater.

How do you wire multiple heating elements?

5:337:50HOW TO WIRE PID FOR SINGLE OR MULTIPLE HEATING ELEMENTSYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe are making a parallel circuit for those heating elements here. So first we wire the negative lineMoreWe are making a parallel circuit for those heating elements here. So first we wire the negative line from our power source to the negative electrode of our second heating element.

What size breaker do I need for a baseboard heater?

Electricians generally install 240-volt heaters, since they use lower amperage and are more energy-efficient than 120-volt heaters. Adding a 240-volt baseboard heater usually requires a new 20- or 30-amp double-pole circuit breaker and new circuit wiring to supply one or more heater units.

What size breaker do I need for a 1500 watt baseboard heater?

A 1500-watt heater on a 120-volt circuit thus needs a breaker of 15.6 amps. Because a 15-amp breaker would be too small, you need a breaker with the next highest rating, which is 20 amps.

How many amps do baseboard heaters draw?

Manufacturer's Recommended Heating NeedsTotal Area of Room (sq. ft.)Recommended Heater Rating (watts)Electrical Circuit Size Needed (240 volts)300270015 amps400360020 amps500450030 amps800720040 amps4 more rows•Mar 14, 2022

What size room will a 1500 watt heater heat?

150 square feetAs a rule of thumb, you'll need roughly 10 watts of heating power for every square foot of floor area in the room. This means that a 1,500-watt heater can be the primary heat source for an area measuring up to 150 square feet.

Safety First On How To Wire A Baseboard Heater

The most important thing when you’re talking about wiring a baseboard heater is always your safety first. Make sure you shut the power off at the panel before you do anything.

Shutting Off The Power On How To Wire A Baseboard Heater

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.

Sizing The Heater For The Room

There are several different size heaters that you can install in a room. As a rule of thumb we use 10 W per square foot.

What Type Of Heater Should I Buy?

When making a purchase on a regular baseboard heater it is always a good idea to check the room sizing like mentioned above.

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.

What Color Wire Do I Need?

The standard wire color for a baseboard heater is red. This type of wire is referred to as nmd90 12/2 non metallic dry.

Why don't you need a thermostat on a heater?

You don't want thermostats at the heater, because you want the heat switched based on the room's temperature, not the heater's. Right at the heater is obviously much warmer than the rest of the room. Even a remote thermostat can be thrown off by the heating that occurs inside its wire connections.

Can a remote thermostat be thrown off?

Even a remote thermostat can be thrown off by the heating that occurs inside its wire connections. The cure there is go with a 24V/relay/low voltage system, as a bonus that lets you use modern 'stats like the Nest. Loads are generally connected in parallel across the 240 Volt mains.

What does it mean to connect a heater in series?

Connecting the heaters in series means that one of the wires from the power source (the thermostat) goes on one end of the first heater, the other end of that first heater is connected to one end of the second heater, and the last end is connected back to the power source. The whole thing forms a loop.

How many volts does a heater receive?

This means that each heater will receive the full 220 volts, ...

What happens if you put two amps in parallel?

If you put too many in parallel on the same circuit, you simply blow the circuit breaker and nothing warms up.

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