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    miraclemant's Avatar
    miraclemant Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Nov 13, 2009, 12:50 PM
    240v basebord heater, and breakers
    I have 2-8ft 2000 watt (8.3 amps each, total 16.6 amps) heaters wired to a 20 amp breaker with no problems.
    But since each of the heaters are in different rooms, and one room is bigger (where the thermastat is) I need to change this one baseboard to a 2500 watt 8 ft 10.1 amp unit to equal out the temp in the two rooms.

    My question is will my 20 amp breaker, and 12 ga wiring handle this load. I believe it will, but with winter coming methinks with a continuous load, this may be a problem, what do you think??
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
    		  
    #2

    Nov 13, 2009, 02:27 PM
    Electric heat is considered a continuous load regardless. So the circuit MUST be figures at 125%. Even your 16.6A is not compliant.
    The .6a is not anything I'd loose sleep over, but 18.4 on a 20A circuit pretty much is.

    You need two circuits.
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