electric space heater calculation

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WhiteRook

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I am looking at a job installing 4 electrical space heaters with fan forced air(hung in the red iron) in a 16000 sq ft unfinished strip mall. The units are 7.5 Kw. The house panel is 208/120 3-phase with 150A main. The spec sheet lists the units as drawing 27A for 208 3-phase. When I was figuring the load, 7500 divided by 360, I get 20.83A...am I correct in figuring the difference in amperage is for the fan portion? I believe the code states that fixed electric space heaters (Art. 424.3(B)are to be considered continuous loads. So would I need 35A breakers for this? And if I put the branch circuit wiring for 2 of these heaters in one conduit the derating for the 7 wires at 70% would mean that I would have to run #6??? If I put all four in one conduit from the panel to a pull box inside then @13 wires I would have to run #4??? This doesn't even take in to account voltage drop. So what do ya'll think, am I right or am I confused.
 

bob

Senior Member
Location
Alabama
WhiteRook said:
I am looking at a job installing 4 electrical space heaters with fan forced air(hung in the red iron) in a 16000 sq ft unfinished strip mall. The units are 7.5 Kw. The house panel is 208/120 3-phase with 150A main. The spec sheet lists the units as drawing 27A for 208 3-phase. When I was figuring the load, 7500 divided by 360, I get 20.83A...am I correct in figuring the difference in amperage is for the fan portion? I believe the code states that fixed electric space heaters (Art. 424.3(B)are to be considered continuous loads. So would I need 35A breakers for this? And if I put the branch circuit wiring for 2 of these heaters in one conduit the derating for the 7 wires at 70% would mean that I would have to run #6??? If I put all four in one conduit from the panel to a pull box inside then @13 wires I would have to run #4??? This doesn't even take in to account voltage drop. So what do ya'll think, am I right or am I confused.
7.5 kw = 20.8 amps . You need to verify the load. The mfg spec sheet may include the fan. A 2 hp fan would pull about 7 amps per table 430.250.
Using the 27 amps x 1.25 = 34 amps. You would need a 35 or 40 amps breaker.
If you assume the 27 amps, that's a total of 108 amps. What is the existing load on the 150 amps panel?
 

WhiteRook

Member
space heater calculation

space heater calculation

I have not taken a load measurement on the panel yet. I will be going out there this weekend.
 
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