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billtesh
Dec 2, 2011, 02:35 PM
I have an electric (heat only) 220volt unit that I have wired with 10/3 to a 30 amp circuit breaker, the thermostat connection is my question. I intend to only run it a few minutes to take the chill off the gargage, can I put a wire between the thermostat connections W1 to R to G and make the unit come on. I understand the G runs the fan and W1 runs the heat coils, but how much current will this pull? Does it split the 220v on the heater coil 5Kw or does one side 120 volt run the heater at 40 amps? 5kw at 220v uses 22 amps, but if the heater runs from only one 120 side then I am looking at over 40 amps. There are 2 heater coils (w1 & w2), but I only intend to use 1 of them. I do not have a thermostat but the connections for one are w1-w2-R-C-G. Is 10/3 wire and a 30amp circuit breaker good enough to run this unit for maybe an hour at a time?