Electric baseboard heater missing thermostat

[zappy]

I don't have much info yet.all i know is it's a 8ft electric baseboard heater and it's missing the thermostat on the wall.The wire is there.Not sure if its 120v. or 240v.Dont know the brand.My question is when i see it what should i look for so i can purchase the correct thermostat.I think i've install two t-stats in my career so i'm kinda egnorant about what to do to install this correctly.Thank you for your help.

[480sparky]

Is the breaker feeding it a 1-pole or 2-pole?

Also, a 240-v stat would have 4 wires hooked to it. 120v stats have 2.

[hardworkingstiff]

Is the breaker feeding it a 1-pole or 2-pole?

Also, a 240-v stat would have 4 wires hooked to it. 120v stats have 2.

What if it is an older building and they just broke 1-leg of the 240-volt circuit? Then it would have 2-wires but be a 240-volt stat?

[480sparky]

What if it is an older building and they just broke 1-leg of the 240-volt circuit? Then it would have 2-wires but be a 240-volt stat?

You should have two sets of hot wires at the stat location....2 line and 2 load. As for the voltage of the circuit, look at the breaker. 1- or 2-pole?

[BryanMD]

What if it is an older building and they just broke 1-leg of the 240-volt circuit? Then it would have 2-wires but be a 240-volt stat?

or there is a relay and trans tucked away somewhere and it is a 24v stat?

[Dennis Alwon]

I don't have much info yet.all i know is it's a 8ft electric baseboard heater and it's missing the thermostat on the wall.The wire is there.Not sure if its 120v. or 240v.Dont know the brand.My question is when i see it what should i look for so i can purchase the correct thermostat.I think i've install two t-stats in my career so i'm kinda egnorant about what to do to install this correctly.Thank you for your help.

Just purchase a DP wall thermostat and save yourself a trip. The DP will work even if it is 120v. FWIW, I have never seen an 8 foot baseboard heater that wasn't 240V. Usually they are 250 watts per foot. Thus an 8' heater is 2000 watts.

[electricmanscott]

Just purchase a DP wall thermostat and save yourself a trip. The DP will work even if it is 120v. FWIW, I have never seen an 8 foot baseboard heater that wasn't 240V. Usually they are 250 watts per foot. Thus an 8' heater is 2000 watts.

Agreed, unless as Bryan pointed out there is a relay and 24v tstat. I'd ask the customer what the wire looks like, if there is a box or just wires sticking out of the wall before I made the trip.

[zappy]

or there is a relay and trans tucked away somewhere and it is a 24v stat?
So what should i do if this is the case?Get a 24v t-stat i'm guessing?Thanks.

[BryanMD]

So what should i do if this is the case?Get a 24v t-stat i'm guessing?Thanks.

I was being (90%) facetious. These set ups are rare.

My point was that you need to see for yourself what EXACTLY is there before making assumptions about whaat might or could or even should be there. KNOW don't guess.

[zappy]

I saw a 12-2 romex coming in to the t-stat.At the baseboard heater there's two 12-2 romex's,one with 240v. and one goes to the t-stat.It's a honeywell.I saw in the baseboard heater j-box a yellow and red wire that looks like it goes to the element.Then there's this do-dad with two blk wires coming out of it,maybe some kind of relay??So can anyone explain in lameman terms how this works.I'm very curious what the do-dad is and how the t-stat controls the power.It looks like it controls only one leg?Thank you.

[480sparky]

Sounds like the stat is breaking just one side of the 240.

[hardworkingstiff]

I'm very curious what the do-dad is and how the t-stat controls the power.It looks like it controls only one leg?Thank you.

The do-dad is probably a thermal cut out safety switch. DO NOT bypass it.

The T-stat appears to be breaking just one leg like you would to a light. One leg of the 240-volt circuit goes to the heater or do-dad and you send the other leg to the switch box (t-stat). Come back from the t-stat to the other lead of the heater or do-dad.

[480sparky]

The do-dad is probably a thermal cut out safety switch. DO NOT bypass it.

The T-stat appears to be breaking just one leg like you would to a light. One leg of the 240-volt circuit goes to the heater or do-dad and you send the other leg to the switch box (t-stat). Come back from the t-stat to the other lead of the heater or do-dad.

Hmmmm. I can't find 'do-dad' in my Codebook. :D

[hardworkingstiff]

Hmmmm. I can't find 'do-dad' in my Codebook. :D


You need to buy the black market code handbook. :smile:

[zappy]

The do-dad is probably a thermal cut out safety switch. DO NOT bypass it.

The T-stat appears to be breaking just one leg like you would to a light. One leg of the 240-volt circuit goes to the heater or do-dad and you send the other leg to the switch box (t-stat). Come back from the t-stat to the other lead of the heater or do-dad.
but what about the yellow and red wire in the j-box?Thank you.:smile:

[zappy]

Is there a way to test the baseboard heater to see if it's any good,like with a ohm meter?

[480sparky]

but what about the yellow and red wire in the j-box?Thank you.:smile:

J-box for the stat? Line & load if it's run in conduit.

[hardworkingstiff]

Is there a way to test the baseboard heater to see if it's any good,like with a ohm meter?

Yes, put the ohm meter on the wires that go to the element.

zappy, your profile says you're an EC. How long have you been an EC (just curious)?

[zappy]

J-box for the stat? Line & load if it's run in conduit.
no the j-box on the heater there's a yellow and red wire that i am not sure how to connect.

[480sparky]

no the j-box on the heater there's a yellow and red wire that i am not sure how to connect.

Is it run in conduit?

[zappy]

Yes, put the ohm meter on the wires that go to the element.

zappy, your profile says you're an EC. How long have you been an EC (just curious)?
And i am curious why you ask?:smile:I admit i don't know everything in this trade,that's why i'm asking so i can learn.I've never hooked up a baseboard heater and t-stat,so i was wondering how to,and how it works.

[PCN]

no the j-box on the heater there's a yellow and red wire that i am not sure how to connect.

Wouldn't they be the wires going to the heating element?

Most often they are just two black wires.

You should have 4 wires: 2 for the thermal overload (leave wire nutted together) & 2 for the heater.

[hardworkingstiff]

You should have 4 wires: 2 for the thermal overload (leave wire nutted together) & 2 for the heater.

Welllllll.

The t-stat and thermal overload need to be wired in series with the heater element.

So, one way to do it is to have a hot wire go to the overload, then the other lead from the overload goes to one lead of the heating element. The other hot wire can go to the t-stat and the return wire from the t-stat would go to the 2nd wire on the heating element.

[hardworkingstiff]

And i am curious why you ask?:smile:I admit i don't know everything in this trade,that's why i'm asking so i can learn.I've never hooked up a baseboard heater and t-stat,so i was wondering how to,and how it works.

Sorry zappy, it just seems your questions are from someone that is new to the trade (not enough time in grade to be an EC).

It is/was not my intent to offend you, and if I did I'm sorry.

[peter d]

Sorry zappy, it just seems your questions are from someone that is new to the trade (not enough time in grade to be an EC).

I would imagine that Zappy probably does not see too many electric baseboards in California. Just like we do not see many heat pumps in New England. :)

[zappy]

Is it run in conduit?no just romex in the walls.

[480sparky]

no just romex in the walls.

Romex with yellow conductors? Maybe it's the white and it's discolored with age, and the black in a 12/3 has been cut off.....

[zappy]

Sorry zappy, it just seems your questions are from someone that is new to the trade (not enough time in grade to be an EC).

It is/was not my intent to offend you, and if I did I'm sorry.No problem.Hey thanks for your help!

[zappy]

Romex with yellow conductors? Maybe it's the white and it's discolored with age, and the black in a 12/3 has been cut off.....Hard working stiff explained it.Thanks for your help.

[zappy]

I would imagine that Zappy probably does not see too many electric baseboards in California. Just like we do not see many heat pumps in New England. :)
Yeah i can go threw the whole winter in the bay area without using my gas heater.:D