DIY & Home Improvement

jwirr

(39,215 posts) Thu Sep 11, 2014, 10:53 AM Sep 2014

I have a room in our house that does not have its own heater. So I bought a life*pro heater for it.

Now I do not think I can use it because it has to be plugged into a 120 V, 15 amp or more circuit of its own. Is there an easy way to wire for that need. The fuse box is at the other end of the house. I like the heater but cannot afford to hire an electrician for this. My son-in-law could do the work if it can be done. I have not talked to him yet.

Anyone got any advice?

Edited to say that the room is my bedroom and it gets very cold.

6 replies

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I have a room in our house that does not have its own heater. So I bought a life*pro heater for it. (Original Post) jwirr Sep 2014 OP

120V 15A is a "normal" household circuit. jeff47 Sep 2014 #1

Okay. Will look into that. I have my computer on it and there are lights but they can be off. My jwirr Sep 2014 #2

Just make sure the outlet on the other side of the wall isn't on same circuit. Hassin Bin Sober Sep 2014 #3

I am earmarking this so my s-i-l can read it also. He may know all of this already as he wires his jwirr Sep 2014 #4

This is extremely good advice. BobTheSubgenius Sep 2014 #6

when you plug it in and turn it on, does the breaker trip? NMDemDist2 Sep 2014 #5

jeff47

(26,549 posts)

1. 120V 15A is a "normal" household circuit.

Reply to jwirr (Original post)

Thu Sep 11, 2014, 11:10 AM

Sep 2014

Your run-of-the-mill plugs are 120V, 15A. So it can run off a "normal" plug.

If it really needs all 15A, you can accomplish that by not plugging in anything to the other plugs on the circuit, or turning those things off while the heater is running.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)

2. Okay. Will look into that. I have my computer on it and there are lights but they can be off. My

Reply to jeff47 (Reply #1)

Thu Sep 11, 2014, 11:16 AM

Sep 2014

computer can be routed to the room on the other side of the wall. Thanks for this info.

Hassin Bin Sober

(26,718 posts)

3. Just make sure the outlet on the other side of the wall isn't on same circuit.

Reply to jwirr (Reply #2)

Thu Sep 11, 2014, 11:44 AM

Sep 2014

There is a good chance it is.

If you do run a new circuit/wire, make it a 20 amp circuit. The only difference is 12 gage wire and 20 amp breaker versus a 14 gage wire and 15 amp breaker.

Some municipalities require new adds to be 20 amp anyway. 15 amp is almost useless if you plug in, say, a vacuum cleaner to a circuit with a TV plugged in. I'm dealing with this situation for a client now - they have to plug their vacuum cleaner in to the bathroom to vacuum the living room because the condo has too few circuits and those circuits are 15 amp.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)

4. I am earmarking this so my s-i-l can read it also. He may know all of this already as he wires his

Reply to Hassin Bin Sober (Reply #3)

Thu Sep 11, 2014, 11:50 AM

Sep 2014

own house and his apartment house but two heads are better than one.

BobTheSubgenius

(11,796 posts)

6. This is extremely good advice.

Reply to Hassin Bin Sober (Reply #3)

Sat Sep 27, 2014, 12:10 AM

Sep 2014

Plug-in heaters are notorious for overheating receptacles, and while you may end up replacing the heater's plug or the actual receptacle sooner than you thought possible, at least the house is protected.

The extra cost isn't that great....although I haven't priced #12 lately. The big question is how easy it is to get from A to B. I'm lucky in that both crawlspace and attic are accessible, and I wired my house for baseboard and ditched the old oil furnace. BIG win.

If it were me, I'd STRONGLY consider dedicating the circuit to a hard-wired baseboard for the extra security, instead of a plug in. It's no extra work, and the only downsides are that it's less flexible, in that you won't end up with a receptacle that you can use for a vacuum, for example, and the heater can't be moved to accommodate a new furniture arrangement.

Finally, while I have no idea what the electrical code is where you are, I do know that here, you are allowed 3750W on a heating circuit with #12 wire. That is a pantload of heat.

NMDemDist2

(49,314 posts)

5. when you plug it in and turn it on, does the breaker trip?

Reply to jwirr (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2014, 05:16 PM

Sep 2014

according to the website i'm reading it takes about as much juice as a blow dryer

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