What You Need to Know About Heaters and Thermostats: Voltage and Circuit Capacity
Are you looking to replace a heater or thermostat? Wondering if the new heater is compatible with your current breaker and thermostat?
Many considerations go into checking heater and thermostat compatibility so let’s break down the different requirements into segments.
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Voltage
One of the first steps to determine thermostat and heater compatibility is checking voltage. Voltage depends on how the space is wired. Usually a space fits 120V or 240V. Check the room voltage on the breaker.
Heaters
Most hardwired heaters use a maximum voltage of 120V or 240V. Purchasing the wrong heater can be dangerous. Before buying a heater, make sure you know the voltage of your space.
Thermostats
Line voltage thermostats can handle up to 120V or 240V. Line voltage is common in electric baseboard heaters, radiant heaters, and convection heaters. If the heater matches your home and thermostat voltage, it is ready to install and use. For line voltage, a single pole thermostat uses two wires, and a double pole thermostat requires four wires.
Most residential spaces employ low voltage thermostats, typically 24V. In this case, a transformer is required due to the voltage difference. Some models may also need a circuit relay. Low voltage thermostats apply thin wiring from 2 to 7 wires, depending on cooling or heat pump attachments.
WARNING: Failure to properly connect thermostats, heaters, and power sources can be dangerous. We recommend calling a licensed electrician for all wired installations.
How do I check the voltage of my thermostat?
Check the voltage of your thermostat in multiple ways:
- Search Google for your thermostat’s make and model.
- Check the manual or product label of your thermostat.
- Use a multimeter to check the “C” wire’s voltage.
- Call the thermostat manufacturer if you cannot determine the voltage.
Circuit Capacity
Thermostats come as either single pole or double pole. A single pole thermostat has no power cutoff. Because a single pole thermostat uses one circuit to power off an attached heater, you must unplug or disconnect it from the power supply.
If you wish to completely turn off your heater using your thermostat, a double pole thermostat can do this with the “off” switch as it utilizes two circuits in the circuit breaker.
How do I determine if my thermostat is single pole or double pole?
Look for an “Off” setting. If there is none, check the wiring. Generally, a single pole thermostat includes two wires, and a double pole thermostat requires four wires.
Most electric heaters can pair to either type of thermostat but verify the heater is compatible before purchasing.
If you would like to know more about heaters and thermostats, check out our blog.
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A single pole thermostat features two electrical wires and no off feature. A double pole thermostat features an off function and four electrical wires.
Line voltage or line voltage wiring refers to the amount or number of volts that a circuit or socket has. Line voltage thermostats often work with electric heaters, including direct-wired electric furnace or baseboard heaters, while a low voltage thermostat works with central HVACs, like furnaces, boilers, radiant heaters, air conditioning, and more.
A pole refers to the number of separate circuits that a switch operates off of. Each thermostat operates differently and offers their own separate benefits!
When choosing a heater, you need to choose the right voltage: either 120V and 240V. Read our guide to learn the differences between 120V and 240V and how to figure out which one you need.
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