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vactech · Jan 29, 2011, 01:50 PM

My electric baseboard heater stopped working. So I thought the most quick thing to do was to replace the very old wall thermostat with a new one. I removed the old thermostat from the wall and tested the circuit with this model of probe seen here:http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511b8YBt%2BzL._SL500_AA300_.jpg ,but the probe didn't light (show and indication of power).

If the old baseboard heater has failed would that be the reason my probe didn't indicate power?
Is the probe not the right kind of probe?
Would it be worth it to just replace the baseboard heater (sense I want to replace it with a better looking one anyway)?

Any help would be appreciated! I really can't afford an electricians rates right now.

EPMiller · Jan 29, 2011, 02:12 PM

That tester would work to tell you if there is power to the tstat if both legs of the power came through the tstat box (double pole tstat). If the tstat is a single pole unit and it was hooked up in a switch loop configuration, then you wouldn't get voltage if the heat strip is open. Although you should get 120 volts to GROUND (test ONLY) on one of the wires if it is a single pole unit. You are going to have to get some kind of meter that can check continuity and do a test directly on the heat element.

donf · Jan 29, 2011, 02:16 PM

Greetings, FYI, I have asked that this thread be moved to the Electrical and Lighting forum.

Just so I can level set myself, did you verify that the electrical circuit that feeds the heaters is operating properly? If so, how did you check the circuit?

Do you own a multi meter, preferably a digital meter or can you purchase or borrow one?

vactech · Jan 30, 2011, 07:24 AM

There were just 2 wires to connect in the wall tstat box. Is that a single pole?

donf · Jan 30, 2011, 08:01 AM

Good morning.

Please do not use the "Comment" button to respond to posts. Please use the "Answer this question" box.

Before you blame the Tstat, please verify that the circuit is operating correctly.

Handyman2007 · Jan 31, 2011, 12:52 PM

Yes. It is always best to check the source voltage first. That would be at the electric service box.

EPMiller · Feb 1, 2011, 02:08 PM

If there are only 2 wires (plus ground) in the box and 2 terminals/pigtails on the tstat, it is a single pole unit. Your problem could also be caused by the limit tstat in the heat strip being open. However you would have to replace the strip anyway if that is the problem. Do NOT even think of bypassing it if that is the case. Just replace the unit. I've also seen things like this give problems just because a wire nut was installed incorrectly. You just have to go over everything. Start with the continuity check on the heat element and go from there.

In reference to the rest of the answers you got, I was assuming that you have already done the obvious breaker/power check.