Can i run two electric wall heaters on same circuit?
user-389891
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
I have a 3000 watt wall heater in my cabin on 240v. Can I add a 4000 watt beside it and run at the same time? I have two 3000 watt heaters in my cabin, different brands, The one in loft puts out a lot more heat than the downstairs one. Aren’t these regulated somehow? The Cadet is the good one.
Replies
What size circuit? How many amps?
3000 W will draw 12.5 A at 240 V. Adding another 4000 W will take the total to just over 29 A. A dryer requires a 30 A circuit and still wouldn't use all of that 30 A current. There are 35 A circuit breakers but these would require 8 gauge wire (the same as required for 40 A circuit). I highly doubt that the expense of 8 gauge wire was made simply for a circuit needing 12 gauge (to properly supply the existing heater). Current draw calculations like the above are the most basic knowledge. (High school physics knowledge.) The wire sizes that I quoted are only "rules of thumb" with many other variables potentially affecting the choice of wire size. You need to contact a licensed electrician. It is obvious that you don't have the knowledge to do the work. Take my advice. It's for your own safety. I was a P.Eng before retiring.
It is unlikely that the wiring for the existing heater is capable of running an additional heater at the same time. you would probably have to run more wire for the new heater.
This is big enough of a new load you also would want to make sure the electric service to the cabin is big enough.
there are lots of possible reasons the downstairs heater could not be putting out as much heat. one possibility is that the heat is going upstairs, which makes it seem like the other one works better. Another is that the space you are heating is larger, or has more loss to the outside.
but there also could be something different with the heater or the wiring.
all electric heaters need to be cleaned, as one clogged with dust can not work as well.
Actually it depends on Circuit max load (amps) + Load amps.
So, please calculate your load amps first then select your affordable circuit.
first question is how many heaters are on any one circuit and what size breaker is protecting that circuit - just for what it's worth, dedicated circuits for each heater would assure you don't "overdraw" on them and over heat the wiring - breakers don't necessarily "work" in these situations as there is no "short" to cause them to fail.
adding that much load to one circuit will cause an overheat situation at the point of the most resistance and eventually cause a fire - might happen at a separate outlet that doesn't have anything plugged in as the draw is further down the line.
you're also going to get a spike in the draw when the heaters first turn on
as perviously mentioned, get a good electrician familiar with running lines like this
good luck
Not electrician so have no advice.
You say that your have two 3000 watt heaters. One downstairs and one upstairs in the loft. And that the one upstairs puts out more heat than the one downstairs.
Since heat rises, could it be that some of the heat from the downstairs heater is simply rising, adding / helping heat upstairs making you think that one heater is better than the other.
From where I'm sitting, I can't imagine needing more heat. :-)
I did the heater comparison the old fashioned way: held my hand in front of the heater. I'd like to post a pic of my breaker to see if that would add data. Is there any easy way to transfer a photo from my iphone to this site? Emerging luddite.
a picture of the breaker wll be helpful to get an idea of what the circuit can carry, but it won't indicate what the load is on the circuit as it doesn't tell you what other devices are powered by that circuit