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| I'm wiring up some baseboard heaters using 12 ga cable. I have been told that 12 ga cable won't safely take
more than 16 Amps.... I have also been told that 12 ga cable on a 25 amp breaker is fine for 4800 watt baseboard heaters....20 amps Which is correct.
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Follow-Up Postings:
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| #12 AWG can only be used with a maximum circuit breaker of 20 amps. Whoever told you 25 is WRONG. As for the 16 amps. 16 is 80% of 20. You can only load a circuit to a maximum of 80% of the over current protection rating. if you have a 4800 watt heater using 240 volts that comes to 20 amps. you HAVE to pull #10 AWG to it and use a 30 amp breaker. |
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- Posted by kurmudgeon (My Page) on Sun, Dec 6, 09 at 20:34
| hexus..our code (Canada) says they have changed the rules allowing higher rated breakers to make greater loading possible. Allowing a 25 amp breaker for 4800 watts. Why they allow this I don't know. Would you suggest I ignore the code, if I use 12 ga cable, and go with 20 amp breakers loading only to 16 amps?
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- Posted by petey_racer (My Page) on Sun, Dec 6, 09 at 20:46
| Just some clarification: "#12 AWG can only be used with a maximum circuit breaker of 20 amps. Whoever told you 25 is WRONG." There ARE some instances where #12 can be on a 25A breaker, but they do not apply here. This is not true in most instances. You certainly CAN load a circuit to 100%. |
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| I have no clue on Canadian codes. My mistake I assumed you were in the states. |
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- Posted by kurmudgeon (My Page) on Sun, Dec 6, 09 at 21:00
| I don't know why they changed the code..which used to be the same as yours in this case but I think i'm going to go with your advice... Our code seems a little too liberal for me. Thanks for the responses...appreciated |
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