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Heater on lighting circut

Colby J

Member
Location
Sparta, WI
Occupation
Electrician
If possible what type of heater could you put on a lighting circut, this question came up on my exam and still cannot find it 2017 NEC any answers would be appreciated thanks.
 

gene6

Senior Member
Location
NY
Occupation
Electrician
Try looking in 210.23
Say you have a 120V 1500 Watt portable heater, not fastened in place and a 15A 120V general purpose branch circuit (two or more outlets on this circuit) is it permissible to plug in the 1500W heater?

Now say you have a 1000W 120V fastened in place heater and the same circuit is it permissible to hardwire the 1000W heater?
 

ramsy

Roger Ruhle dba NoFixNoPay
Location
LA basin, CA
Occupation
Service Electrician 2020 NEC
Try looking in 210.23
Say you have a 120V 1500 Watt portable heater, not fastened in place and a 15A 120V general purpose branch circuit (two or more outlets on this circuit) is it permissible to plug in the 1500W heater?

Now say you have a 1000W 120V fastened in place heater and the same circuit is it permissible to hardwire the 1000W heater?
Nice exercise that applies to recent client

210.23 determines the answer is NO:
1) For cord & plug connected loads:
1500W is 83% of 1800W (15A x 120v)
2) For appliances fastened in place:
1000W is over half of 1800W
 

ramsy

Roger Ruhle dba NoFixNoPay
Location
LA basin, CA
Occupation
Service Electrician 2020 NEC
If possible what type of heater could you put on a lighting circut..
Qualified persons also need to reject remodel hazards, such as 15A SABC's, not allowed in kitchens, laundry, baths, or FAU, much less when missing the required safety devices, determined by room or appliance.
 

Eddie702

Licensed Electrician
Location
Western Massachusetts
Occupation
Electrician
ahhhh...the good old days with 30 amp plug fuses.... we had none of those problems.... plug that baby in anywhere :)
Neighbor of mine "Fat Holly" used to manage a rock & roll band. The music was awful but since she was two houses away it didn't bother us much. Her furnace quit and she went out and bought a bunch of electric heaters. After all the plug fuses blew, she called me. Of course, they had put 30s in everywhere they could (some were fuse stats). I went over with a box of fuses and matched the wire size to the fuses. Plugged in some heaters and jiggled them around so the circuits weren't overloaded.

2 years later I was back. Her and the band decided that removing wallpaper at 1:00 am was a good idea. After they got vinegar water into a switch box and knocked out the lights they called and woke me up. I looked at the panel and they had put 30s back in most everything.
 

gadfly56

Senior Member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
Neighbor of mine "Fat Holly" used to manage a rock & roll band. The music was awful but since she was two houses away it didn't bother us much. Her furnace quit and she went out and bought a bunch of electric heaters. After all the plug fuses blew, she called me. Of course, they had put 30s in everywhere they could (some were fuse stats). I went over with a box of fuses and matched the wire size to the fuses. Plugged in some heaters and jiggled them around so the circuits weren't overloaded.

2 years later I was back. Her and the band decided that removing wallpaper at 1:00 am was a good idea. After they got vinegar water into a switch box and knocked out the lights they called and woke me up. I looked at the panel and they had put 30s back in most everything.
For people who keep complaining about how over-conservative the NEC is, "Fat Holly" is exactly why.
 
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