Mother-in-law has an old baseboard heater that quit working. The tag says it is a 240v. Hooked up a new 240v and it doesn't work. When turning off power I realized that the washing machine and wifi router also shut off. The outlet they are plugged into must run in line with the heater. Does this mean that the wiring is actually 120v and that is why the new heater will not work? The old heater looks 50 years old so maybe it would still work, but at a lower output and the new heater just won't work?
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Electrician help (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter bcat01
- Start date
The Z Machine
Footballguy
A multimeter is your friend here. Also, check for tripped breakers. Finally, when working on any AC voltage source, turn off at the breaker unless checking for voltage or when the job is complete.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
A multimeter is your friend here. Also, check for tripped breakers. Finally, when working on any AC voltage source, turn off at the breaker unless checking for voltage or when the job is complete.
ETA: if you're just checking an outlet the safest tool is a receptacle checker like this: https://www.amazon.com/Southwire-Eq...=1675079592&sprefix=b07hb2j3zg,aps,111&sr=8-1
ETA: if you're just checking an outlet the safest tool is a receptacle checker like this: https://www.amazon.com/Southwire-Eq...=1675079592&sprefix=b07hb2j3zg,aps,111&sr=8-1
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
How many wires from panel and what color are they at the heater?
Red and White plus a ground
No it is hard wired. I find it odd that by unhooking the thermostat the outlet that the washer and wifi router is plugged into shuts off.
belljr
Footballguy
So it is technically possible that the old heater was a 240v but the circuit is 120.
"Installing a 240-volt heater on a 120-volt circuit is not as big a safety risk, but you will notice that your heater will fail to work most times. When it does run, it will end up giving out much less heat than what you needed for your room and below what you expected."
I would go to the box to see what the breaker is
"Installing a 240-volt heater on a 120-volt circuit is not as big a safety risk, but you will notice that your heater will fail to work most times. When it does run, it will end up giving out much less heat than what you needed for your room and below what you expected."
I would go to the box to see what the breaker is
3C's
Footballguy
If wired correctly that should be 120v. 240v can be 3 wires but it's 2 hots, hots should be black and red. White should be neutral. Only a guess though without measuring with a meter and I'm not a professional.
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
Not always. People use the white on a breaker which is what I assume is happening here since OP said the old heater is 240.If wired correctly that should be 120v. 240v can be 3 wires but it's 2 hots, hots should be black and red. White should be neutral. Only a guess though without measuring with a meter and I'm not a professional.
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
So you attached red to one of the wires from the new heater and white to the other?
3C's
Footballguy
That's why I said "should". White should be neutral, black and red hot. It's not a "requirement" but it is what is typically done.Not always. People use the white on a breaker which is what I assume is happening here since OP said the old heater is 240.If wired correctly that should be 120v. 240v can be 3 wires but it's 2 hots, hots should be black and red. White should be neutral. Only a guess though without measuring with a meter and I'm not a professional.
