Purchased a new Dimplex baseboard electric heat grate and thermostat today, to replace the 35 year old grate and thermostat that still worked fine, but were cosmetically outdated. Didn't think it would be a difficult job, but for some reason, once I turned the breaker back on and tried to get the new grate to work by cranking the thermostat up, I got nothing. Wire set up to the grate itself was quite simple, the new grate had two black wires and a ground screw, so I took a white wire from the wall and connected it to one of the black wires of the heater, then I took the black wire coming from the wall, and connected it to the other black wire of the heater. Then I took the ground wire from the wall and connected it to the ground screw of the heater. (Seeing the new heat grate had two black wires, I figured it shouldn't make a difference what color of wire from the wall I connect to one of the black ones of the heater)
Once that was done, I removed the old thermostat by removing the two wires that were bent around two screws of the old thermostat. Installed the new thermostat, connecting the two wires from the new thermostat to the two wires in the metal box. I thought I had done OK, especially after I turned the breaker back on, and it didn't blow, so I thought it must be OK. Could it be that I installed the wires backwards ? If that were the case, wouldn't the breaker shut off when I turned the power back on ?
I am in no way an expert on electrical work, but I thought this wouldn't be a complicated job, for someone with even my limited capabilities. Obviously I was wrong.
Any help would be appreciated (but keep it simple cause like I said, I really don't know much about electrical work) :o

You need to use a volt meter and track down the voltage problem. When the voltage stops that device is not working. You also need to make sure if you have a 220 or 120 volt system.

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Originally Posted by hvac1000

You need to use a volt meter and track down the voltage problem. when the voltage stops that device is not working. You also need to make sure if you have a 220 or 120 volt system.

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On the new heat grate, there is a sticker that says [VAC 220/208v] I am almost certain that the wiring for all my baseboards are 220 volts. They are connected to specific electrical panel in my basement which only has double breakers in it, like my electric stove. (not single like most of the plug in's and light switches). The only tester I have is a little gizmo with two wires connected to a small light, which tells me if there is current in a 110 outlet or live wire. Don't know if it would work on 220 wiring though. I'll go buy a volt meter today and get back to you, however having a volt meter and not knowing how to read it is kind of useless, but maybe you could help me out on how to read the thing. Like I said before, I truly know very little about electrical work, and other than replacing the odd light switch or outlet, I would label myself as brain dead, if it gets any more complicated than that. The fact that I have a fear for electricity doesn't help much either... I don't trust it, even when the power is turned off.

Sometimes heat will not turn off

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Originally Posted by sean plum

sometimes heat will not turn off

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What?? :confused:

Ok, found what the problem was. Turns out, I had done everything correctly, except for one thing. The reason the heat grate would not work, is because on the electric heat grate itself, there are two sides which you can connect the main feed wires to. I chose the right side of the baseboard heat grate, cause that's where my wire feed from the wall came out from. On the left side of the heat grate, under the cover, there are two wires there, which were NOT connected together, but rather had two rosette caps on each wire. I simply took both those wires, and attached them together, which caused the electricity to go through to the other side of the grate itself. Now everything works as it is suppose to and gives off proper heat.