I want to install 2, 750W-120V baseboard heaters in series connection to have better heat distribution in rooms. Can I use 14/2 wire?

No, #12 must be used with a 20 amp breaker.

And it is not called series, it is actually a parallel circuit.

Cable will come from the breaker to the first heater, then continue onto the next heater.

This assumes a thermostat built into each unit.

TK, I think you missread, he wants to connect 2 equal 120 volt loads in series to a 240 Volt circuit.
I feel poster needs to have 2 120 volt circuits at 2 locations to accomplish this.
In theory and practice it can work, but not likely code.
exfaee, can you get 120 volts to the 2 locations?

The whole issue in this is to keep the current below 6 Amp, and use the 14/2 wire.

If I was on and island with no code, and I was only one working on this, I may do this.
I am 99% sure code does not allow this unless it was designed and accepted to do so.
Why are you set on #14, is that what is there? And if it can't be upgraded, you may have to downsize on the Heaters.

Why do I have to downsize the heaters, in series, the loop current will never let them dissipate more power than 500W. The loop current at 240V source is only 4.2 Amp.

Your original post is confusing. You say 120v, then later you say 240v. Don't expect an accurate answer when you don't provide accurate details and description of what you are planning on doing. Try again and explain what it is you really want to do.

I want to connect 2 - 28 Ohm ( 500W@120V) Baseboard Heathers in series connection, 15 Ft apart, feeding it from a 240V Circuit from the Panel. This way I would get around 1000W total power, but the current will only be 4.2 Amp in the circuit, so I could safely use 14/2 wire with safety ground. Is it OK with the Code, if not why?

Missouri, I think you missread, he wants to connect 2 equal 120 volt loads in series to a 240 Volt circuit.
I feel poster needs to have 2 120 volt circuits at 2 locations to accomplish this.
In theory and practice it can work, but not likely code.
exfaee, can you get 120 volts to the 2 locations?

I can't tell you why not codewise, If 1 shorted out, the other would see 240 volts.
Code is for Safety, not efficiency.
Please answer, can you get #12 to your 2 locations?

Missouri, I think you missread, he wants to connect 2 equal 120 volt loads in series to a 240 Volt circuit.
I feel poster needs to have 2 120 volt circuits at 2 locations to accomplish this.
In theory and practice it can work, but not likely code.
exfaee, can you get 120 volts to the 2 locations?

I can't tell you why not codewise, If 1 shorted out, the other would see 240 volts.
Code is for Safety, not efficiency.
Please answer, can you get #12 to your 2 locations?

Yes, I can pull 12/2 wires to the location, however, my objective is to limit current in the circuit. I could use 2- 32Ohms load/Heater in series - 1500W @ 240V rating - which in case of shorting out one, the circuit still would be safe. I could get 882W total, still satisfactory for me.
The total current will even be less - 3.4 Amps. Is this OK for the code.

Limiting the current also limits the heat, do they have any type of temperature adjustment(thermostat)?

Thanks for keeping up, yes they have Thermostats on them.
Heat limitation is not a problem, I will have enough heat with 882 Watts. The objective is to keep current low to be able to use 14/2 wire, and stay safe - meeting the Code.

I believe 750W-120V baseboard heaters should have there own breaker. Check with county code they will know for sure

I believe 750W-120V baseboard heaters should have there own breaker. Check with county code they will know for sure however it depends on the amount of amp it is pulling per heater, so you could easliey put three 120v using low amp on one 20amp breaker with 12/2

Nope, I did not misread this post.


TK, I think you missread, he wants to connect 2 equal 120 volt loads in series to a 240 Volt circuit.


Poster brought out the 240 volt plan and connect in series plan in another post.

The one Code violation I can cite is that the 120 volt heaters are UL Listed as that, 120 volts with a grounded neutral as the feeder, and wiring in series will void the listing.

Besides that, there is something wrong about this plan I cannot put my finger on it.

If the physical wiring installation results in one cable only having one active conductor carrying current, and it passes through metal, there will be heating effect due to the missing of the other circuit conductor to cancel out the magnetic flux.

I think it is a silly idea, and the poster has the same sense.

Sorry TK.
exfaee, I would just use #12 and be able to handle other heaters in the future, Most of the cost is installation, the difference in cost from 14 to 12 is low to where I would not use 14, even if a technicality allowed so. Then you could use a 15 or 12 amp breaker.
If code does allow?/don't think it does, don't know which code. Then you could still do the series connection in the panel.