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When buying an electric heater you must know the correct voltage & wattage ( BTUs)
Voltage
U S residential household’s use an
electrical current of 120 and 240 volts, it’s very important
that you have right voltage in purchasing electrical equipment
- If you wire a 240 volt heater to a 120
volt circuit, you will only get about ¼ or 25% of the
wattage the heater was designed to deliver.
If you wire a 120 volt heater to a 240 volt circuit the
heater will overheat and self destruct! The heater will try
to deliver four times its rated wattage, causing the element
& motor permanent damage.
- You may also heard of (110 volts, 115 volts, 125 volts it’s the
same as 120 volts (220, 230, 250) is the same as 240 volts
- Over the years the power companies
have been raising the voltage to your home)
- 208 volts is NOT the same as 240 volts
it’s a total different voltage
- If
you have 208 voltage please call or email us, we will work
with you in purchasing the correct model
Watts
- 120 volts heaters can handle wattages of 500,750,1000 and 1500 watts
- 240 Volts Heaters can handle wattages
of 1000 watts up to 10,000 watts
Amps
- Amperage is determined by dividing the voltage by wattage
- Example: 4000 watt heater with a 240 volt circuit = 16.7 amp ( 4000/240=16.7)
- Knowing your amperage will allow you
to figure out your circuit breaker size )
Circuit Breaker
- Circuit Breaker can only be used at 80 % of its rating per code. For example a 15 amp breaker can only draw 12 amps
- Single Pole Breaker is for 120 volt
heaters
- Double Pole Breaker is for 240 volt heaters
- Breaker size will determine wire size
-
Wire Size
- Romex and NM wire are the same thing
both "non-metallic"
- Conductor wires are usually color
coded – black and/or red are hot, white is neutral
- 12-2 gauge wire has 2 wires plus a
ground , 12-3 wire has three wires plus a ground
- Typical electric heater will use a
12-2, 10-2, 8-2 or 6-2 wire gauge ( wire size is base on
amps and distance from circuit breaker box to
the appliance
- 12-3, 10-3, 8-3 wire is used for
3-way switches,
split receptacles, major appliances like stoves, and dryers
- Ground wires are usually bare copper,
but sometimes they are encased
within a
green insulation
- Same wire is used for 120 volt or 240
volt applications
- Wire size is a base gauge, the larger
the number the thinner the wire and less electricity can go
through it
- Household wire
sizes go from 14
gauge to 2 gauge
- Wire size is based on the amp load the
electrical appliance your installing
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