Electric Baseboard Heating Thermostats

[Eddie702]

I have read article 424 and as far as I can see it requires (and always has) that baseboard thermostats need an "off" position as required in 424.19 & 424.20. I have no problem with that.

But I have seen a bunch of digital baseboard thermostats (both by Honeywell & White Rogers) that are single pole and have no "off" position. I would assume these cannot be used as a disconnect.

I had a customer that bought some of these for me to install but with no disconnect ability and single pole I don't see any way they can be used.

The only loophole I see is if the branch circuit breaker can be locked off as mentioned in 424.19 sec 110.25

Am I missing something??

How can the MFG. put these out?

 

[texie]

The thermostat is only required to have an off position and disconnect all ungrounded conductors if you are going to use the thermostat as a disconnecting means. The thermostat does not have to be the disconnecting means if you have other compliant disconnecting means. Also, if the 'stat is not the disconnecting means, IE just acting as a controller, it does not have to open all ungrounded conductors.

 

[tortuga]

If you use those thermostats you have to install a breaker lockout, most manufacturers offer these.

 

[Eddie702]

Thanks, that's basically what I got out of it by reading the code. Problem is people want the new digital stats but that leaves you with no disconnect.