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    spurpuratus's Avatar
    spurpuratus Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Jul 26, 2008, 04:43 AM
    Removing an Electric Baseboard Heater
    Hi!

    I'm hoping someone has an answer for me here. :confused:

    I'm doing some remodeling in large room which has 2 electric baseboard heaters (240 V) controlled by a single thermostat. The heaters worked fine before my project. I needed to remove one of the heaters, and now the other does not work. I suspect that they heaters were wired in series.

    In removing the one baseboard heater, I am left with ope white (hot), one black, and one ground wire in the box that are currently capped of individually (not connected to anything). Am I correct in guessing that this is where the problem is?

    I have two questions. First, if I cap the white (hot) and black together, would that restore heat to the other baseboard heater?

    Second, because of the renovation, is it possible to replace the electric baseboard heater that I just removed with an electric forced-air heater (240 V) on that same circuit with the series wiring?

    Thanks! :)
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
     
    #2

    Jul 26, 2008, 05:11 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by spurpuratus
    In removing the one baseboard heater, I am left with ope white (hot), one black, and one ground wire in the box that are currently capped of individually (not connected to anything). Am I correct in guessing that this is where the problem is?
    No. If all you have are one each white, black and ground that is the last unit on the circuit. The other unit probably has the feed-through splice. It is hard to say what the problem is at this point.
    Go to the other heater and open the wiring compartment. Tell us what wires are there coming from the wall.




    Quote Originally Posted by spurpuratus
    I have two questions. First, if I cap the white (hot) and black together, would that restore heat to the other baseboard heater?
    NO! That would create a direct 240v short circuit.
    See above.

    Quote Originally Posted by spurpuratus
    Second, because of the renovation, is it possible to replace the electric baseboard heater that I just removed with an electric forced-air heater (240 V) on that same circuit with the series wiring?
    Sure. That would most likely be fine. Be sure to check the voltage (240v) and the wattage of the new heater you buy.
    spurpuratus's Avatar
    spurpuratus Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #3

    Jul 26, 2008, 07:38 AM
    Hi again!

    Okay, I looked at the other remaining baseboard heater. At one end are just 2 black wires from the heater itself capped together (I expected that).

    At the other end there are 3 black wires capped together and 2 white plus 1 black wire capped together. The black wires with the white ones are from the heater itself. I believe the two white wires are hot.

    So, I'm guessing that the heater in place has wires going out to the one that I removed. But if they are capped together as I have described, that should complete the circuit in the first heater and let it run?

    Thanks!
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
     
    #4

    Jul 26, 2008, 11:58 AM
    Yes it should.

    You should take your tester and test the wires coming into the first heater to identify which are the feeds and which are the load out to the removed heater.
    pjfox23's Avatar
    pjfox23 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Feb 4, 2011, 10:51 PM
    Is there any follow-up to this? Did capping the white and black together solve the problem

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