...Installing electric baseboard heater.


  #1  
Old 11-17-04, 12:41 PM
Jake1688
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...Installing electric baseboard heater.

I bought a 240 volt baseboard heater from my local DIY store. The gal there said it was realtively easy to do, just kill the power, install a 15 amp double pole, run the wire (she suggested 14/3) and hook up the heater. Well, it didn't turn out that easy. They only make a 20 amp breaker for my box, she said that was more than adequate. I ran the 14/3 but noticed that the wiring scheme on the instructions for the heater only show two supply lines and a ground line. The instructions clearly state any other wire should be capped off and not used. I realize that with 14/3 I'd have two hot wires coming from the breaker and one going to the neutral bar and one to the ground, but what do I do with the neutral wire running to the baseboard heater? Is capping it off and not using it ok? Also, a master electrician where I work stated that if I have a 20 amp breaker, I should use 12 gauge not 14. Is that true? Please help! I am trying to make FHA happy so I can complete buying this house and every day I don't have this hooked up brings me closer to the deal not going through. Thanks!
 
  #2  
Old 11-17-04, 01:01 PM
uprichard
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For 20amp you need to use 12 gauge
 
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Old 11-17-04, 01:22 PM
Jake1688
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Thanks!

One problem down.
 
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Old 11-17-04, 02:04 PM
R
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For a 20 amp breaker you need 12 gauge wire.

For a baseboard heater you only need 2 conductor wire (plus ground). If you do use three conductor wire (plus ground) then simply cap the white wire on both ends.
Before you buy more wire. What is the power requirement for the heater? That will help determine the breaker size and therefor the wire size.
 
  #5  
Old 11-17-04, 03:13 PM
Jake1688
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Heater size

Its 500 watts. Hope I can get by with what I've got.
 
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Old 11-17-04, 03:20 PM
R
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Yes, a 500 watt heater will work fine on either a 15 or 20 amp circuit. However, you need to match the wire to the breaker. 14 gauge wire won't do with a 20 amp breaker. Change the wire to 12 gauge, or change the breaker to 15 amp.
 
  #7  
Old 11-17-04, 03:44 PM
Jake1688
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Thanks to everyone.

I'm going to get new cable. Thanks for the help!
 
 

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