electric base board heating feeders

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mshields

mshields

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Location
Boston, MA
I've got this monstrosity of a building that has electric baseboard heating all around it's perimeter; about 45kW worth of the stuff. I'm stuck with replacing it in kind if you can believe it.

My question is this, I've got a collection of lengths ranging in kW size from .5 to 2.5. I'm also limited in space for panelboards.

Naturally, I've only got 208/120 to work with.

My first instinct was to go with as many 20A, 208V single phase circuits as I need. But on second thought, what' preventing me from using 30A or even 40A to keep the number of circuits down?

Are there any relevant code issues with doing so?

Thanks,

Mike
 
IMO 30 amp circuits are about as large as you will want to go.

Thermostats can only handle so much, the wiring space in the baseboards is only so big and I don't even want to think about getting a 8 AWG cable in the back of the baseboard and still get the baseboard tight to the wall.
 
iwire said:
Thermostats can only handle so much, . . .
Click to expand...
It might be easier to use thermostatically-controlled contactors, maybe even switching a whole panel at a time.

(Yes, Bob, sub-panel. :grin:)
 
LarryFine said:
It might be easier to use thermostatically-controlled contactors, maybe even switching a whole panel at a time.

(Yes, Bob, sub-panel. :grin:)
Click to expand...

Well contactors are always a possibility, of course that assumes large zones, not 'room sized' zones.

But do you really want handle 8 AWGs in baseboard?

All the condos and apartment I used to do where full electric baseboard. As I mentioned 30 amp circuits with number 10 worked really well and most of the line volt T stats where rated 22 to 24 amps.
 
iwire said:
I used to do where full electric baseboard. As I mentioned 30 amp circuits with number 10 worked really well and most of the line volt T stats where rated 22 to 24 amps.
Click to expand...


Me to,

Are your thermostats wall mounted or in the base board?
 
thanks

thanks

Yeah - the wire size concern occured to me which is why I layed it all out based on 30A, 208V. Then I learned I've got about double the load I had planned on based on the interior heating.

Holy cow!

Thanks for all the input.

Mike
 
mshields said:
Yeah - the wire size concern occured to me which is why I layed it all out based on 30A, 208V. Then I learned I've got about double the load I had planned on based on the interior heating.
Click to expand...
Anyone make 480v B/B heaters?
 
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