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Scott
 
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Default Connecting Baseboard Heater

I bought an 8' Marley Electric Baseboard Heater to replace the old one in our
family room. The new heater has a single black wire plus a copper ground
wire. However, the old one was wired with a black and white wire, plus a
ground. They're both the same type of heater. Which wire coming out of
the wall should I use....the white or the black?

Thanks!
Scott

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Scott
 
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I just realized the old baseboard heater had a control knob right on it so one could
turn the heat up or down manually. The new one has no knob and is meant to be
used only with with a thermostat, which we do not have in this room. Am I looking
at hiring an electrician to do the installation? The heater is 240V.

Scott

Scott wrote:

I bought an 8' Marley Electric Baseboard Heater to replace the old one in our
family room. The new heater has a single black wire plus a copper ground
wire. However, the old one was wired with a black and white wire, plus a
ground. They're both the same type of heater. Which wire coming out of
the wall should I use....the white or the black?

Thanks!
Scott


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Speedy Jim
 
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Scott wrote:

I bought an 8' Marley Electric Baseboard Heater to replace the old one in our
family room. The new heater has a single black wire plus a copper ground
wire. However, the old one was wired with a black and white wire, plus a
ground. They're both the same type of heater. Which wire coming out of
the wall should I use....the white or the black?

Thanks!
Scott


I'll bet there is another conductor (Blk) at the
opposite end. If fed from one end, this conductor
has to be looped back to the opposite end.

Marley probably has a thermostat kit to be added to one end.

You may however be in over your head on this one.
Don't take a chance.

Jim
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Scott
 
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Speedy Jim,

Yes, the black lead loops to the other end, so either end could be used for the hot
lead. I did check Marley's website and they do have a thermostat kit that can be
integrated into the heater case. The wiring diagram seems fairly straighforward,
or should I call in a professional, it being 240V?

Thanks!
Scott

Scott

Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

I bought an 8' Marley Electric Baseboard Heater to replace the old one in our
family room. The new heater has a single black wire plus a copper ground
wire. However, the old one was wired with a black and white wire, plus a
ground. They're both the same type of heater. Which wire coming out of
the wall should I use....the white or the black?

Thanks!
Scott


I'll bet there is another conductor (Blk) at the
opposite end. If fed from one end, this conductor
has to be looped back to the opposite end.

Marley probably has a thermostat kit to be added to one end.

You may however be in over your head on this one.
Don't take a chance.

Jim


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Speedy Jim
 
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Default

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

Yes, the black lead loops to the other end, so either end could be used for the hot
lead. I did check Marley's website and they do have a thermostat kit that can be
integrated into the heater case. The wiring diagram seems fairly straighforward,
or should I call in a professional, it being 240V?

Thanks!
Scott


Follow the directions and you should be OK.
Verify that the replacement heater is actually rated for 240V
(you probably already did this).

BTW, if the circuit feeding this is 240V, the Wh wire
should be taped (or otherwise) to appear Black.
And the breaker should be a 2-pole (common trip) unit.
Jim

Scott

Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

I bought an 8' Marley Electric Baseboard Heater to replace the old one in our
family room. The new heater has a single black wire plus a copper ground
wire. However, the old one was wired with a black and white wire, plus a
ground. They're both the same type of heater. Which wire coming out of
the wall should I use....the white or the black?

Thanks!
Scott


I'll bet there is another conductor (Blk) at the
opposite end. If fed from one end, this conductor
has to be looped back to the opposite end.

Marley probably has a thermostat kit to be added to one end.

You may however be in over your head on this one.
Don't take a chance.

Jim



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Scott
 
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Default

Speedy Jim,

How do you mean the white wire should be taped to appear black. I assume I need
to use it somewhere in the circuit? I believe (but I can't remember for sure) that on
the old heater, both the white and black leads were connected.

Yes, the heater is rated for 240V, and the breaker is twice the height of all the other
breakers, meaning it's 240V (just like the well pump breaker).

Scott

Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

Yes, the black lead loops to the other end, so either end could be used for the hot
lead. I did check Marley's website and they do have a thermostat kit that can be
integrated into the heater case. The wiring diagram seems fairly straighforward,
or should I call in a professional, it being 240V?

Thanks!
Scott


Follow the directions and you should be OK.
Verify that the replacement heater is actually rated for 240V
(you probably already did this).

BTW, if the circuit feeding this is 240V, the Wh wire
should be taped (or otherwise) to appear Black.
And the breaker should be a 2-pole (common trip) unit.
Jim

Scott

Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

I bought an 8' Marley Electric Baseboard Heater to replace the old one in our
family room. The new heater has a single black wire plus a copper ground
wire. However, the old one was wired with a black and white wire, plus a
ground. They're both the same type of heater. Which wire coming out of
the wall should I use....the white or the black?

Thanks!
Scott

I'll bet there is another conductor (Blk) at the
opposite end. If fed from one end, this conductor
has to be looped back to the opposite end.

Marley probably has a thermostat kit to be added to one end.

You may however be in over your head on this one.
Don't take a chance.

Jim


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Speedy Jim
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

How do you mean the white wire should be taped to appear black. I assume I need
to use it somewhere in the circuit? I believe (but I can't remember for sure) that on
the old heater, both the white and black leads were connected.

Yes, the heater is rated for 240V, and the breaker is twice the height of all the other
breakers, meaning it's 240V (just like the well pump breaker).

Scott


It's a fine technical point having nothing to do with the
heater working or not. Normally, the Wh wire is Neutral
in a 2-cond cable. In this case, *both* wires are Hot
and Code stipulates that the Wh wire may be used as Hot
*if* it is labeled so at both ends.

That's to help prevent accidents where someone assumes the
Wh wire to be Neutral when in fact it's Hot.
Jim




Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

Yes, the black lead loops to the other end, so either end could be used for the hot
lead. I did check Marley's website and they do have a thermostat kit that can be
integrated into the heater case. The wiring diagram seems fairly straighforward,
or should I call in a professional, it being 240V?

Thanks!
Scott


Follow the directions and you should be OK.
Verify that the replacement heater is actually rated for 240V
(you probably already did this).

BTW, if the circuit feeding this is 240V, the Wh wire
should be taped (or otherwise) to appear Black.
And the breaker should be a 2-pole (common trip) unit.
Jim

Scott

Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

I bought an 8' Marley Electric Baseboard Heater to replace the old one in our
family room. The new heater has a single black wire plus a copper ground
wire. However, the old one was wired with a black and white wire, plus a
ground. They're both the same type of heater. Which wire coming out of
the wall should I use....the white or the black?

Thanks!
Scott

I'll bet there is another conductor (Blk) at the
opposite end. If fed from one end, this conductor
has to be looped back to the opposite end.

Marley probably has a thermostat kit to be added to one end.

You may however be in over your head on this one.
Don't take a chance.

Jim

  #8   Report Post  
Scott
 
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Default

Speedy Jim,

Are you saying that I should cap the white wire and only use the black wire?
I'm not sure what you mean by "neutral".

Thanks!
Scott

Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

How do you mean the white wire should be taped to appear black. I assume I need
to use it somewhere in the circuit? I believe (but I can't remember for sure) that on
the old heater, both the white and black leads were connected.

Yes, the heater is rated for 240V, and the breaker is twice the height of all the other
breakers, meaning it's 240V (just like the well pump breaker).

Scott


It's a fine technical point having nothing to do with the
heater working or not. Normally, the Wh wire is Neutral
in a 2-cond cable. In this case, *both* wires are Hot
and Code stipulates that the Wh wire may be used as Hot
*if* it is labeled so at both ends.

That's to help prevent accidents where someone assumes the
Wh wire to be Neutral when in fact it's Hot.
Jim


Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

Yes, the black lead loops to the other end, so either end could be used for the hot
lead. I did check Marley's website and they do have a thermostat kit that can be
integrated into the heater case. The wiring diagram seems fairly straighforward,
or should I call in a professional, it being 240V?

Thanks!
Scott

Follow the directions and you should be OK.
Verify that the replacement heater is actually rated for 240V
(you probably already did this).

BTW, if the circuit feeding this is 240V, the Wh wire
should be taped (or otherwise) to appear Black.
And the breaker should be a 2-pole (common trip) unit.
Jim

Scott

Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

I bought an 8' Marley Electric Baseboard Heater to replace the old one in our
family room. The new heater has a single black wire plus a copper ground
wire. However, the old one was wired with a black and white wire, plus a
ground. They're both the same type of heater. Which wire coming out of
the wall should I use....the white or the black?

Thanks!
Scott

I'll bet there is another conductor (Blk) at the
opposite end. If fed from one end, this conductor
has to be looped back to the opposite end.

Marley probably has a thermostat kit to be added to one end.

You may however be in over your head on this one.
Don't take a chance.

Jim


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Speedy Jim
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

Are you saying that I should cap the white wire and only use the black wire?
I'm not sure what you mean by "neutral".

Thanks!
Scott


No, you need the "Wh". Only paint it Black or tape it with Black
tape so that it "appears" to be Blk. That way you will have
2 "Black" wires to connect to the heater.

On a 120V circuit (lamp/receptacle), the Wh wire is the
Grounded or "Neutral" wire (not to be confused with the
bare "Grounding" wire).
Your heater circuit doesn't use the "Neutral" wire, so
a Wh wire would be inappropriate. But if we paint it Black,
then it won't "look" White. g
HTH
Jim

Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

How do you mean the white wire should be taped to appear black. I assume I need
to use it somewhere in the circuit? I believe (but I can't remember for sure) that on
the old heater, both the white and black leads were connected.

Yes, the heater is rated for 240V, and the breaker is twice the height of all the other
breakers, meaning it's 240V (just like the well pump breaker).

Scott


It's a fine technical point having nothing to do with the
heater working or not. Normally, the Wh wire is Neutral
in a 2-cond cable. In this case, *both* wires are Hot
and Code stipulates that the Wh wire may be used as Hot
*if* it is labeled so at both ends.

That's to help prevent accidents where someone assumes the
Wh wire to be Neutral when in fact it's Hot.
Jim


Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

Yes, the black lead loops to the other end, so either end could be used for the hot
lead. I did check Marley's website and they do have a thermostat kit that can be
integrated into the heater case. The wiring diagram seems fairly straighforward,
or should I call in a professional, it being 240V?

Thanks!
Scott

Follow the directions and you should be OK.
Verify that the replacement heater is actually rated for 240V
(you probably already did this).

BTW, if the circuit feeding this is 240V, the Wh wire
should be taped (or otherwise) to appear Black.
And the breaker should be a 2-pole (common trip) unit.
Jim

Scott

Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

I bought an 8' Marley Electric Baseboard Heater to replace the old one in our
family room. The new heater has a single black wire plus a copper ground
wire. However, the old one was wired with a black and white wire, plus a
ground. They're both the same type of heater. Which wire coming out of
the wall should I use....the white or the black?

Thanks!
Scott

I'll bet there is another conductor (Blk) at the
opposite end. If fed from one end, this conductor
has to be looped back to the opposite end.

Marley probably has a thermostat kit to be added to one end.

You may however be in over your head on this one.
Don't take a chance.

Jim

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Scott
 
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Default

Speedy Jim,

Okay, NOW I get it! Because it's 240V, both the black and white wires are hot...
correct?

Scott

Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

Are you saying that I should cap the white wire and only use the black wire?
I'm not sure what you mean by "neutral".

Thanks!
Scott


No, you need the "Wh". Only paint it Black or tape it with Black
tape so that it "appears" to be Blk. That way you will have
2 "Black" wires to connect to the heater.

On a 120V circuit (lamp/receptacle), the Wh wire is the
Grounded or "Neutral" wire (not to be confused with the
bare "Grounding" wire).
Your heater circuit doesn't use the "Neutral" wire, so
a Wh wire would be inappropriate. But if we paint it Black,
then it won't "look" White. g
HTH
Jim

Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

How do you mean the white wire should be taped to appear black. I assume I need
to use it somewhere in the circuit? I believe (but I can't remember for sure) that on
the old heater, both the white and black leads were connected.

Yes, the heater is rated for 240V, and the breaker is twice the height of all the other
breakers, meaning it's 240V (just like the well pump breaker).

Scott

It's a fine technical point having nothing to do with the
heater working or not. Normally, the Wh wire is Neutral
in a 2-cond cable. In this case, *both* wires are Hot
and Code stipulates that the Wh wire may be used as Hot
*if* it is labeled so at both ends.

That's to help prevent accidents where someone assumes the
Wh wire to be Neutral when in fact it's Hot.
Jim


Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

Yes, the black lead loops to the other end, so either end could be used for the hot
lead. I did check Marley's website and they do have a thermostat kit that can be
integrated into the heater case. The wiring diagram seems fairly straighforward,
or should I call in a professional, it being 240V?

Thanks!
Scott

Follow the directions and you should be OK.
Verify that the replacement heater is actually rated for 240V
(you probably already did this).

BTW, if the circuit feeding this is 240V, the Wh wire
should be taped (or otherwise) to appear Black.
And the breaker should be a 2-pole (common trip) unit.
Jim

Scott

Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

I bought an 8' Marley Electric Baseboard Heater to replace the old one in our
family room. The new heater has a single black wire plus a copper ground
wire. However, the old one was wired with a black and white wire, plus a
ground. They're both the same type of heater. Which wire coming out of
the wall should I use....the white or the black?

Thanks!
Scott

I'll bet there is another conductor (Blk) at the
opposite end. If fed from one end, this conductor
has to be looped back to the opposite end.

Marley probably has a thermostat kit to be added to one end.

You may however be in over your head on this one.
Don't take a chance.

Jim




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Speedy Jim
 
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Default

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

Okay, NOW I get it! Because it's 240V, both the black and white wires are hot...
correct?

Scott


Yes.
  #12   Report Post  
Scott
 
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Jim,

Update: I stopped by a local electrical contractor's business and showed an electrician
there the wiring diagram for the double-break thermostat/switch that mounts on the
end of the baseboard heater. He confirmed the correct way to hook up the leads...
L1 and L2 go to the red leads coming out of the thermostat, and the other two leads
connect to the heater (the wire loops through the length of the heater). Now I feel
very confident about doing this job myself.

Scott

Speedy Jim wrote:

Scott wrote:

Speedy Jim,

Okay, NOW I get it! Because it's 240V, both the black and white wires are hot...
correct?

Scott


Yes.


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