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Electric Baseboard Heater Problems serialcomm 10-03-2007
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Posted by serialcomm on October 3, 2007, 4:37 pm
Dear group: We recently had problems with an electric baseboard
heater in the office building where I work. The heater began throwing
sparks and burned through part of the heater's metal casing. The line
voltage thermostat was turned off but the breaker was still on. The
building and heaters are about 25 years old. I do not know the make/
model heater other than it is 240 volt. I have two questions:

1. When we had an electrician look at the heater, we asked him why the
heater would have power when the thermostat was turned off and the
heaters were not "heating". He said that they always have power and
always produce a little heat, something like a pilot light on a gas
furnace. It doesn't make sense to me why the heater has a "pilot
circuit". Do any of these heaters have such a circuit? I know that
the heaters in my office have no power until the thermostat calls for
heat.

2. Are baseboard heaters noted for this type of failure and are the
other heaters in the building in danger of a similar failure?

Thanks for your assistance on my long winded problem!


Posted by tony on October 3, 2007, 5:23 pm
Get another electrician one you had missing few screws

> Dear group: We recently had problems with an electric baseboard
> heater in the office building where I work. The heater began throwing
> sparks and burned through part of the heater's metal casing. The line
> voltage thermostat was turned off but the breaker was still on. The
> building and heaters are about 25 years old. I do not know the make/
> model heater other than it is 240 volt. I have two questions:
>
> 1. When we had an electrician look at the heater, we asked him why the
> heater would have power when the thermostat was turned off and the
> heaters were not "heating". He said that they always have power and
> always produce a little heat, something like a pilot light on a gas
> furnace. It doesn't make sense to me why the heater has a "pilot
> circuit". Do any of these heaters have such a circuit? I know that
> the heaters in my office have no power until the thermostat calls for
> heat.
>
> 2. Are baseboard heaters noted for this type of failure and are the
> other heaters in the building in danger of a similar failure?
>
> Thanks for your assistance on my long winded problem!
>



Posted by on October 3, 2007, 5:39 pm
wrote:

>Dear group: We recently had problems with an electric baseboard
>heater in the office building where I work. The heater began throwing
>sparks and burned through part of the heater's metal casing. The line
>voltage thermostat was turned off but the breaker was still on. The
>building and heaters are about 25 years old. I do not know the make/
>model heater other than it is 240 volt. I have two questions:
>
>1. When we had an electrician look at the heater, we asked him why the
>heater would have power when the thermostat was turned off and the
>heaters were not "heating". He said that they always have power and
>always produce a little heat, something like a pilot light on a gas
>furnace.

        Bullshit.

> It doesn't make sense to me why the heater has a "pilot
>circuit". Do any of these heaters have such a circuit? I know that
>the heaters in my office have no power until the thermostat calls for
>heat.
>
>2. Are baseboard heaters noted for this type of failure and are the
>other heaters in the building in danger of a similar failure?

        At that age, yes.

>
>Thanks for your assistance on my long winded problem!

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Posted by Stormin Mormon \(on backup com on October 3, 2007, 6:12 pm
Baseboard heaters use 220 volts, typically. They have two "hot" wires. The
thermostat might only break one of the hots. The entire heater may be
energized, all the time.

The "pilot circuit" is nothing I've ever heard.

--

Christopher A. Young
(Using backup computer. In a couple
days I will be back on my regular
email adress.)
.
.

Dear group: We recently had problems with an electric baseboard
heater in the office building where I work. The heater began throwing
sparks and burned through part of the heater's metal casing. The line
voltage thermostat was turned off but the breaker was still on. The
building and heaters are about 25 years old. I do not know the make/
model heater other than it is 240 volt. I have two questions:

1. When we had an electrician look at the heater, we asked him why the
heater would have power when the thermostat was turned off and the
heaters were not "heating". He said that they always have power and
always produce a little heat, something like a pilot light on a gas
furnace. It doesn't make sense to me why the heater has a "pilot
circuit". Do any of these heaters have such a circuit? I know that
the heaters in my office have no power until the thermostat calls for
heat.

2. Are baseboard heaters noted for this type of failure and are the
other heaters in the building in danger of a similar failure?

Thanks for your assistance on my long winded problem!



Posted by Bubba on October 3, 2007, 6:19 pm
On Wed, 3 Oct 2007 18:12:04 -0400, "Stormin Mormon \(on backup

>Baseboard heaters use 220 volts, typically. They have two "hot" wires. The
>thermostat might only break one of the hots. The entire heater may be
>energized, all the time.
>
>The "pilot circuit" is nothing I've ever heard.

Stormy is our resident hack.
He is on "back-up" brain.........as usual.
Bubba

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