Check out some similar questions!

Nanooo · Jan 6, 2007, 05:23 PM

Hi All,

I have a question about wiring my base board heaters.

I am currently re-wiring my basement, adding a few heaters on the original 240V-20A circuit.
It will be handling a total of 3500 W, no problem.

The question is about the wiring itself, here's what I intend to do:

Run from the breaker (Red, Black,G... 12-2) to my first thermostat box. Marrett all the reds together, send the black to the thermostat then from thermostat to the baseboard. Wire blacks together and send to the next thermostat box.

Does that mean that the baseboard always has 120V-20A flowing through it? I know its grounded, but if the insulation on the coil breaks for some reason, there would be potential for shock... right?

The rest of my house is wired that way, I was going to do it the same way, but I got worried.

Anyone?

tkrussell · Jan 6, 2007, 07:15 PM

Why not use 2 pole (double Pole) thermostats? Yes the method you mention will work using only a single pole, however this is not normally done in the US.

However,I notice you use the word marrett. What does that mean? I am unable to find it in a dictionary.

Are you in the UK?

Since all of UK wiring is 230 volts, I suspect that using single pole switches may be typical.

Nanooo · Jan 7, 2007, 10:51 AM

By Marrett (Its a brand name) I meant twisting them together, sorry.

I'm in Canada, and in my house all the baseboards are wired that way, it was built in the late 1980's. Am I right to be concerned about this?

I recently replaced 7 of my thermostats with electronic programmable ones... and they are also single pole as you say.

Please excuse my ignorance, I have no formal background in electricity.

What is the difference between 2 ploe and single pole thermostats?

Thanks very much for your help.

tkrussell · Jan 7, 2007, 11:22 AM

A 2 pole stat will shut off both hot legs in the off position. A single pole will only shut off one hot leg. There is no real problem with a single pole, we just normally use 2 pole stats here in the states because it is required by code, as the thermostat also acts as the disconnecting means.

Canadian code I assume does not require 2 pole stats. I am not familiar with the Canadian electric code.