Replacing electric heaters
#1
01-15-16, 07:58 AM
Replacing electric heaters
I am intending to replace 2 bathroom heaters in our house built in 1957. It appears that they have not worked in a long time, we have been in the house for a year. In the crawlspace, the wires look fine and there is electricity to them. My question/ concern is if the wires are somehow compromised, am I increasing any danger by having a load on the wires. I assume the electricity has been live to the heaters since 1957.
#4
01-15-16, 09:34 AM
In the crawlspace, the wires look fine and there is electricity to them.
#5
01-15-16, 12:19 PM
Sorry for the error, it is original cable. I had an electrician change out the panel from fuses to breakers and he informed me that the lines were live. He did turn off the breakers about a year ago to each heater. He said it all looked like #12. The new heater is 8.33 amps. I just didn't know if adding the load could be dangerous. Thank you for your help.
#6
01-15-16, 01:27 PM
Group Moderator
You want to connect a heater to a dedicated cable. That shouldn't be any problem.
You do need to know if that is a 120v or 240v circuit there.
A 120v circuit would be utilize and single breaker while a 240v circuit would require a two pole breaker.
A heater using 8.33A could be a 120v 1000 watt heater. That on a single 20A circuit would be fine.
You do need to know if that is a 120v or 240v circuit there.
A 120v circuit would be utilize and single breaker while a 240v circuit would require a two pole breaker.
A heater using 8.33A could be a 120v 1000 watt heater. That on a single 20A circuit would be fine.
#7
01-15-16, 01:59 PM
Thank you for all the input. The question I am still just a little concerned about is if a live cable has a load added to it, is there additional danger. Since that cable was presumable live from 1957-2015, but who knows when the original load was ended (heater quit working), should there be any concern with adding a load back to it?
#8
01-15-16, 02:03 PM
Group Moderator
should there be any concern with adding a load back to it?
