King Electric Breaker Size Chart
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1SIZING THE HEATING CIRCUIT:
HELPFUL HINTS:
AMPS
VOLTS
WATTS
WIRE SIZE
CIRCUIT PROTECTION
FAN HEATER OR BASEBOARD?
12
120
1,440
#14/2
15 Amp – 1-Pole
16
120
1,920
#12/2
20 Amp – 1-Pole
SPACE: A baseboard heater takes up more wall space than a
12
240
2,880
#14/2
15 Amp – 2-Pole
fan-forced heater which can cause problems placing furniture.
16
240
3,840
#12/2
20 Amp – 2-Pole
(For example: a 2250 Watt Pic-A-Watt® heater will provide as
24
240
5,760
#10/2
30 Amp – 2-Pole
much heat as a 9 foot baseboard.)
32
240
7,680
#8/2
40 Amp - 2 Pole
COMFORT: A fan-forced heater will heat a room within a few
1. According to the National Electric Code heating circuits are
considered a continous load and therefore must be derated by 20%.
minutes whereas a baseboard will require 30 to 40 minutes. A
(For example: a 20 Amp heating circuit cannot have more than 16 Amps
fan-forced heater will also maintain a more even temperature
ofload connected.)
because the fan will circulate air around the room. This reduces
the severity of hot/cold temperature swings.
2. 120 Volt heaters require 1-Pole circuit breakers; 240 Volt heaters need
NOISE: A baseboard heater has no moving parts and therefore is
2-Pole breakers.
quieter than a fan heater. The small Pic-A-Watt® heater uses a
3. Use 2-wire cable with ground (Romex™ or BX).
squirrel cage blower which makes it almost inaudible.
EFFICIENCY: A 1500 Watt baseboard uses the same amount of
4. When placing multiple heaters on a circuit do not exceed the watt-
age listed for the corresponding wire and circuit breaker size. (For
electrical power as a 1500 Watt fan heater. The difference is a
example: 2-1000W & 1-1500W, 240V heaters = 3500 Watts total.
fan heater gives more even heat throughout the room thereby
These 3 heaters would require 12/2 wire and a 20 Amp 2-Pole
reducing air stratification (hot air rising and not mixing with the
breaker if they were to all be placed on the same circuit. If more
cooler floor air). This process makes you feel cooler causing you
heaters are needed either run a new circuit or increase the wire
to turn the baseboard thermostat to a higher temperature setting
and breaker size to accommodate the load.)
whereby it runs more often thus using more electric power than
the same size fan heater. Every 1° a thermostat is turned up will
5. A 1500 Watt heater will cost the same to run whether it is 120 or
raise a power bill 3.1%. As such, a baseboard set to 75°F will
240 Volt. 240 Volt heating circuits are more common because, as
cost you 15.5% more than a fan heater set to 70°F.
the chart shows, you can place more heaters on a 20 Amp 240
Volt circuit (maximum of 3840 Watts) versus a 120 Volt circuit
WHICH FAN HEATER TO CHOOSE?
(maximum of 1920 Watts).
6. 120 and 240 Volt heaters are not interchangeable. A 240 Volt heater
USE: If the heater will run often and be used as primary heating for
run at 120 Volt will produce 25% of the rated wattage. A 120 Volt heater
the home King recommends using heaters with steel elements
run at 240 Volt will be destroyed and poses a severe fire hazard.
such as the Pic-A-Watt®. These elements carry a five year
warranty and will hold up to the rigors of everyday use. For
7. What voltage are my heaters?
supplemental or occasional use open-coil elements work fine.
If budgetary constraints are of primary importance open-coil
heaters are the least expensive.
NOISE: A propeller-type fan will make more noise than a squirrel
One breaker indicates 120 Volt is
cage fan. Open-coil elements make more noise than steel mass
feeding your heater.
elements (Pic-A-Watt® ) due to the rate of heat exchange with
the air. For large rooms, two small heaters will be quieter than
one large heater.
Two breakers tied together
indicates a 240 Volt circuit
feeding your heater.
King Electrical Manufacturing Company
/
9131 10th Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98108
/
phone 206.762.0400
/
fax 206.763.7738
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