[RosietheRiveter]

I am looking to upgrade all the Mears stats in our townhouse, each room is on it's own zone, circa 1988. After reading a few Help Desk queries about the Mears I am now confident in looking to upgrade to a digital programmable stat.

Question: Newer programmable stats are asking Capacity and Wiring questions. Example:
Wiring: 4 wire DPST
Capacity: 3600 watts @ 240V

Based on the information I was able to gather off the existing stats in my home how would I determine what type of existing wiring? And what existing wattage? So I may upgrade to the correct and more energy efficient stat? Thanks.

[tkrussell]

Either or both, check your panelboard to determine what type of circuit breakers you have for electric heat, most likely that are all 2 pole 20 amp breakers, and/or find the nameplate label on all your electric heating units, usually on the left end of baseboard units.

If you only have all 2 pole 20 amp breakers in your panel for heating units, then the 2 Pole DPST t'stat you propose will work fine.

Be sure to read carefuly the instrcutions to connect the new stats. For safety purposes and to not damage the stat the circuit breaker must be OFF before removing the existing stat.

[RosietheRiveter]

Additionally I believe that the existing information on my stat of:
22-120A/240 Volt

Could this translate into A means Amps so therefor by converting Amps into Watts I should have a
5280-28800 Watts 240 Volt thermostat?

Is this reasonable?
-Rosie

[RosietheRiveter]

Thanks tkrussell!! I was hoping you would respond. Very knowledgeable. Yes I checked my panel box and indeed all heating breakers are 2 pole 20 Amp. I was concerned about the wattage however feel more confident about our future purchase for upgrade.

Just a follow up would it make any difference if the heat was radiant from the ceiling? I guess this was big in the late 1980's so all the heat is radiant from the ceiling with the exception of the basement and one bathroom.

Thanks again!
-Rosie