Circuit Breakers for Electric Baseboard Heaters

Most circuit breakers are either 20-amp or 30-amp for a baseboard heater, depending on the heater’s wattage. Your circuit breaker should have high enough amperage rating to handle the electrical load of the heater as well as anything else on the circuit, such as the room’s wall outlets.

What breaker do I need for a baseboard heater?

Electricians generally install 240-volt heaters, since they use lower amperage and are more energy-efficient than 120-volt heaters. Adding a 240-volt baseboard heater usually requires a new 20- or 30-amp double-pole circuit breaker and new circuit wiring to supply one or more heater units.

What size breaker do I need for a 2000w baseboard heater?

Here’s the summary on what is the maximum baseboard heating load that may be connected to on a 20 amp circuit breaker: If you use 120V baseboard heaters, the 20-amp circuit can support a net total of 2,400 W. That’s one 2,000 W baseboard heaters or two 1,000 W baseboard heaters.

Does a baseboard heater need a dedicated circuit?

240-volt baseboard heaters are in need of a dedicated circuit to supply enough power for proper functionality. The general rule of thumb is that baseboard heaters need a 20-amp circuit that requires a 12-gauge wire for either type heater.

What size breaker do I need for a 1500 watt baseboard heater?

A 1500-watt heater on a 120-volt circuit thus needs a breaker of 15.6 amps. Because a 15-amp breaker would be too small, you need a breaker with the next highest rating, which is 20 amps.

What size breaker do I need for a 1000 watt baseboard heater?

Typically you will need to have the wire connected to a 20 amp breaker. This type of breaker is referred to as a double pole 20 amp. It is also what is used for 12 gauge wire.

How many heaters can you have on a 20 amp breaker?

So a 240-volt circuit running on a 20-amp, double-pole breaker, can have any combination of heaters up to 3,840 watts. For example, using just one thermostat, you can install: Two 1,500 watt heaters, or. Three 1,000 watt heaters, or.

How many amps does a 2000 watt baseboard heater use?

8.3 Amps

2000 watt is equivalent to 8.3 Amps.

What size breaker do I need for a 2500 watt baseboard heater?

30 Amp breaker

A 2500 watt load at 120 volts consumes 20 Amps. You would need a 30 Amp breaker and 10 AWG wiring.

What size breaker do I need for a 240 volt 4000 watt heater?

20 amps

The appropriate circuit breaker capacity for a 4000-watt heater is 20 amps if it’s attached to a 240-volt outlet. If you use a lower-amp breaker for this heater, it will cause the electrical system to overload and the breaker to trip.

How many watts can a 30-amp breaker handle?

30-amp 240-volt circuit: 30 amps x 240 volts = 7,200 watts.

How many amps does a 1500w heater draw?

12.5 Amps

A 1500 watt space heater (on high setting) will draw 12.5 Amps. When a few lights or a television are on the same circuit, the 15 Amp limit is quickly reached and the breaker will trip.

How many baseboard heaters can I put on a 30-amp circuit?

These three baseboard heaters can be connected to a two-pole 30-amp breaker that is supplying power to the heaters with a two-wire 10-gauge ROMEX® cable-type wire.

How many amps is a 4 foot baseboard heater?

8.3 Amp

Can I use a 10 2 wire for baseboard heaters?

Re: Baseboard heater 240volt 10/2 wire 30 amp

So total watts allowed is 5760 watts on a 10/2 wire with a double pole 30 amp breaker. Thanks !! CEC code allows 24 Amps on your 30 Amp breaker (80% rating) Unless you have an Industrial breaker rated for 100% , that is your MAX for baseboard heaters.

How many amps does a baseboard heater pull?

Manufacturer’s Recommended Heating Needs

How many baseboard heaters can I put on a 20 amp circuit?

A circuit running on a 20-amp double-pole breaker can have any combination of heaters up to 3,840 watt. You can install two 1,500 watt heaters if you use just one thermostat. There are three 1,000 watt heaters.

How do you tell if a breaker is 120 or 240?

If you’re not able to figure out the voltage from the product label, you can check the breaker powering the heater. In general, a 240 volt breaker will look like the one on the left, while a 120 volt will look like the breaker on the right.

What size breaker do I need for 240 volts?

Sizing the Heating Circuit

What’s the difference between 220 and 240 volts?

In North America, the terms 220V, 230V, and 240V all refer to the same system voltage level. However, 208V refers to a different system voltage level. In North America, the utility companies are required to deliver split phase 240VAC for residential use.

Is a 30 amp breaker 220V?

A 30 amp double breaker is made for 240 volt.