BaseBoard Heat, How much can i handle


  #1  
Old 07-08-08, 05:42 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 49
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
BaseBoard Heat, How much can i handle

I have a 10x14 room that i wired up for baseboard heating. I sued 14/2 wiring with a 15 amp for the heat. I planned on 1- 6ft and 1-3ft baseboards. They are 240V with a combined total of 2250 Watts (6ft is 1500w 4.1 amps, 3ft is 750 watts 3.1 amps).

Will this be ok with 14/2 wire and a 15 amp???

I thought my calculations were right when i installed the wiring but my "buddy" says i need to have 12/2 with a 20amp.

How much could the 14/2 with 15 amp handle for our baseboard heat? Could i just use the 1- 6ft heater with 1500 watts and 4.1 amps
 
  #2  
Old 07-08-08, 07:14 PM
J
Member
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: United States
Posts: 17,733
Upvotes: 0
Received 1 Upvote on 1 Post
A 15-amp 240-volt circuit can provide up to 3600 watts. With baseboard heat, you are limited to 80% of that, which is 2880 watts. So 2250 watts is within the limit.

14-gauge copper wire is fine on a 15-amp circuit. The voltage of the circuit doesn't change that.

By the way, your calculation of the amps on the 6-foot heater is incorrect.
 
  #3  
Old 07-08-08, 07:30 PM
pcboss's Avatar
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Maryland
Posts: 13,976
Received 194 Upvotes on 170 Posts
1500 watts / 240 volts = 6.25 amps, not the 4.1 you figured.
 
  #4  
Old 07-08-08, 07:51 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 49
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
yes!!!! Thank you, i thought i was going to have to run 12 gauge wire all over again. Now i can stop pulling my hair out.

Thanks
Matt
 
  #5  
Old 07-08-08, 11:10 PM
F
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: NE Wis / Paris France{ In France for now }
Posts: 4,364
Upvotes: 0
Received 2 Upvotes on 2 Posts
The other tibbit here if you use the 14-2 NM { with ground } you should get red or bleu marker and remarked the white wire so you know you got 240 volts so that way no one can make a mistake thinking it is a 120 v circuit but end up being 240 volts

Merci, Marc
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: