Convection Heater wiring


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Old 10-12-18, 04:34 PM
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Convection Heater wiring

I would like to add a convection Heater in a room just next to my dryer... can I plug this heater on the same wire and braker as the dryer ?

-240v (braker is 30amp)

my dryer spec is: 240v- 24amps
convection heater :240v (1000w) so 4.2amps

so technicly a think yes...but better ask first
 
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Old 10-12-18, 04:52 PM
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One problem is that heating devices usually specify the circuit size needed. If it's 120v and just plugs in the wall..... it's understood to be a 20A maximum circuit.

If the heater connects to 240v...... it may need to be protected at 20A...... not 30A.
 
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Old 10-12-18, 05:25 PM
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Hint: The plug for the heater or appliance (plug in models as opposed to hard wire models) implies the required circuit amperage rating.
 
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Old 10-12-18, 05:29 PM
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The dryer needs to have it'own circuit, no? Can't share
 
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Old 10-12-18, 06:34 PM
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ok a bit more info and background, maybe for nothing because the answer looks more like a big NO NO.

The reason for this shortcut; My house was built in 1885 and passing a new wire from my 100amp fuse box to the basemen is next to impossible. I'm kind of stuck with what is allready there.

and I only have (4) 240v wire in the basemen.
-1 for the stove
-1 for the dryer
-1 for the Heat pump...(but I think this one is going arround the house and not true the basement)
-1 Oil furnace.

the room where the convection is going is not curently suply by any dock...
and the convection needs to be HARDWIRE 240v (1000w)
 
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Old 10-13-18, 05:27 PM
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Dryer pulls 24A?
1000w heater pulls 4?
You're already over the 80% limit for a 30A breaker.
There must be some way to pull a wire to the basement? No drilling through floors?
Can you run a wire in conduit on outside wall and back in?
where are other heaters located on floor above? What are those circuits running?
 
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Old 10-13-18, 06:29 PM
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-There must be some way to pull a wire to the basement? No drilling through floors?
=As I said the house was built in 1885 the fuse box is in a section of the house that was haded after, all the wire are passing trought wood concrete (mix with large rock) and back into wood, with twice turning at 45' angle. It would be a hell of a job to do. If it wasn't for the 2x45' angle I would of tried.

-Can you run a wire in conduit on outside wall and back in?
That is one of my last resort, when they install the heat pump some 20 years ago thats how they did it. But they had to go almost all around the house to get in.(easy and safe place to drill).

-Where are other heaters located on floor above? What are those circuits running?
My second heat source is a oil furnace.
 
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Old 10-13-18, 06:33 PM
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Here is a new plan:

If I take the wire that suply the oil furnace, its connected inside the braker box with a 20A. I would change that braker to a 40A but in the basement install a box with two 20A fuze one for the furnace and one for my Convection Heater ?

Would that be safe ?
Would that work ?
 
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Old 10-13-18, 07:19 PM
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If I take the wire that suply the oil furnace, its connected inside the braker box with a 20A. I would change that braker to a 40A
That would not be safe unless the wire is #8 or larger.
 
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Old 10-14-18, 06:42 AM
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It would be a hell of a job to do.
Sometimes the right way is not the easy way. A hammer drill will go through concrete and rock. If you do not have one, you can rent one. Something you have to think outside the box to get a job done.

Based on your last reply, running a larger feeder and installing a sub panel might be a good idea for adding future circuits since your main panel is so hard to get to.
 
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Old 10-17-18, 07:42 PM
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Wire is ok, its a big metal shielded from main panel to oil furnace, but if I had 2 more breaker in a sub panel how do I make sure I respect the first one (Main panel) ?

Right now My main panel is 100A and all the breakers add up to 200A does it mater ? If I switch a 20A breaker to a 40A bringing the total to 220A. And then add a sub panel with 2x20amp breaker.

Does it mater really?
is it ok to have a possible total of 220A on a 100A main breaker if all the breaker are just at 50% load then its "light out !"
 

Last edited by eliteinfo; 10-17-18 at 07:47 PM. Reason: error
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Old 10-17-18, 07:53 PM
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Adding up the breaker handle.ratings does not reflect the load on a panel. The correct method is a demand load calculation.
 
 

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