This may be a bit off topic, however, I have just wired in an electric
heater for my shop. The heater is a 208/240V @ 19.6 amps. The breaker that
supplies my shop (detached) is a double pole 10A 10AWG 3+ground.
Question is: If the main breaker from the panel is 10A, is that per voltage
lead, or overall. If the heater requires almost 20A, then do I want a 220
single pole (double 20A with trip cap on top) or double 10A.
Any help appreciated
Brian
I have changed the breaker in the home box to 30A. For a test, I turned the
heater on, all the lights, and ceiling fan, along with the table saw and
miter saw. All went fine, without a hitch.
Thanks to all,
Brian
Bob Walters wrote:
> Brian:
> The good news is the cable is correct for the heater. The bad (sorta)
> news is that the double pole 10 amp breaker is going to limit you to 10
> amps at 240V. What you need is a 2 pole 30 (yes, thirty) amp breaker. As
> a rule, no circuit should be loaded to more than 80% of capacity, which
> is 18 amps on a 20 amp circuit.
> Code calls for #10 AWG wire for a 30 amp load, so the cable is OK,
> just replace the breaker with a 2 pole 30 Amp one, hook one colored wire
> (red or black) to each of the poles, and you should be good to go.
> Just one thing else: get the receptacle to match the plug on the
> heater cord, or if no cord, get a 250VAC, 30 Amp plug and receptacle,
> and some 10/3 SO cord to hook it up, and you are well on your way....
>
> Brian Klar wrote:
>> This may be a bit off topic, however, I have just wired in an electric
>> heater for my shop. The heater is a 208/240V @ 19.6 amps. The breaker
>> that supplies my shop (detached) is a double pole 10A 10AWG 3+ground.
>> Question is: If the main breaker from the panel is 10A, is that per
>> voltage lead, or overall. If the heater requires almost 20A, then do I
>> want a 220 single pole (double 20A with trip cap on top) or double 10A.
>>
>> Any help appreciated
>>
>> Brian
In article <[email protected]>,
Bob Walters <[email protected]> wrote:
>Brian:
> The good news is the cable is correct for the heater. The bad (sorta)
>news is that the double pole 10 amp breaker is going to limit you to 10
>amps at 240V. What you need is a 2 pole 30 (yes, thirty) amp breaker. As
>a rule, no circuit should be loaded to more than 80% of capacity, which
>is 18 amps on a 20 amp circuit.
> Code calls for #10 AWG wire for a 30 amp load, so the cable is OK,
>just replace the breaker with a 2 pole 30 Amp one, hook one colored wire
> (red or black) to each of the poles, and you should be good to go.
> Just one thing else: get the receptacle to match the plug on the
>heater cord, or if no cord, get a 250VAC, 30 Amp plug and receptacle,
>and some 10/3 SO cord to hook it up, and you are well on your way....
This is fine for the heater - but note that 80% of 30A is 24A, and
minus the 19.6A for the heater that leaves 4.4A left for the lighting
and all of the power tools. (That 4.4A is at 220V = 970 Watts, but that
isn't much to handle everything.)
>Brian Klar wrote:
>> This may be a bit off topic, however, I have just wired in an electric
>> heater for my shop. The heater is a 208/240V @ 19.6 amps. The breaker that
>> supplies my shop (detached) is a double pole 10A 10AWG 3+ground.
>> Question is: If the main breaker from the panel is 10A, is that per voltage
>> lead, or overall. If the heater requires almost 20A, then do I want a 220
>> single pole (double 20A with trip cap on top) or double 10A.
--
--henry schaffer
[email protected]
"Brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have changed the breaker in the home box to 30A. For a test, I turned
the
> heater on, all the lights, and ceiling fan, along with the table saw and
> miter saw. All went fine, without a hitch.
>
> Thanks to all,
>
> Brian
>
> Bob Walters wrote:
>
> > Brian:
> > The good news is the cable is correct for the heater. The bad (sorta)
> > news is that the double pole 10 amp breaker is going to limit you to 10
> > amps at 240V. What you need is a 2 pole 30 (yes, thirty) amp breaker. As
> > a rule, no circuit should be loaded to more than 80% of capacity, which
> > is 18 amps on a 20 amp circuit.
isn't 80% of 20 16?
> > Code calls for #10 AWG wire for a 30 amp load, so the cable is OK,
> > just replace the breaker with a 2 pole 30 Amp one, hook one colored wire
> > (red or black) to each of the poles, and you should be good to go.
> > Just one thing else: get the receptacle to match the plug on the
> > heater cord, or if no cord, get a 250VAC, 30 Amp plug and receptacle,
> > and some 10/3 SO cord to hook it up, and you are well on your way....
> >
> > Brian Klar wrote:
> >> This may be a bit off topic, however, I have just wired in an electric
> >> heater for my shop. The heater is a 208/240V @ 19.6 amps. The breaker
> >> that supplies my shop (detached) is a double pole 10A 10AWG 3+ground.
> >> Question is: If the main breaker from the panel is 10A, is that per
> >> voltage lead, or overall. If the heater requires almost 20A, then do I
> >> want a 220 single pole (double 20A with trip cap on top) or double 10A.
> >>
> >> Any help appreciated
> >>
> >> Brian
>
Brian:
The good news is the cable is correct for the heater. The bad (sorta)
news is that the double pole 10 amp breaker is going to limit you to 10
amps at 240V. What you need is a 2 pole 30 (yes, thirty) amp breaker. As
a rule, no circuit should be loaded to more than 80% of capacity, which
is 18 amps on a 20 amp circuit.
Code calls for #10 AWG wire for a 30 amp load, so the cable is OK,
just replace the breaker with a 2 pole 30 Amp one, hook one colored wire
(red or black) to each of the poles, and you should be good to go.
Just one thing else: get the receptacle to match the plug on the
heater cord, or if no cord, get a 250VAC, 30 Amp plug and receptacle,
and some 10/3 SO cord to hook it up, and you are well on your way....
Brian Klar wrote:
> This may be a bit off topic, however, I have just wired in an electric
> heater for my shop. The heater is a 208/240V @ 19.6 amps. The breaker that
> supplies my shop (detached) is a double pole 10A 10AWG 3+ground.
> Question is: If the main breaker from the panel is 10A, is that per voltage
> lead, or overall. If the heater requires almost 20A, then do I want a 220
> single pole (double 20A with trip cap on top) or double 10A.
>
> Any help appreciated
>
> Brian
Size the breaker to protect the wire - 10AWG = 25-30A. The breaker should be
a double slot (pole) 25 or 30A.
ELAhrens
Apprentice Termite
"Brian Klar" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This may be a bit off topic, however, I have just wired in an electric
> heater for my shop. The heater is a 208/240V @ 19.6 amps. The breaker that
> supplies my shop (detached) is a double pole 10A 10AWG 3+ground.
> Question is: If the main breaker from the panel is 10A, is that per
voltage
> lead, or overall. If the heater requires almost 20A, then do I want a 220
> single pole (double 20A with trip cap on top) or double 10A.
>
> Any help appreciated
>
> Brian