30A Circuit

[Dragster Racer]

What am I missing here? One of the Dayton heaters I am looking at is 240V, 16A. Fine. But it needs a 30A circuit. Why? Putting it on a 30A curcuit means that the #12 wire won't cut it. Why do that?

[Mr_fixit]

maybe cause the inital surge of a motor is 6 times the normal current. Although that's very brief. I'd say cause a 20 amp breaker would trip every time the thing turns on.

[W-Cummins]

Well 16 amps is right on the MAX of a attached device on a 20 amp breaker (80%)... If it really makes even 16.1 amps it's over the 20 amp breaker's rating for that application.

William...

[Aceman]

What am I missing here? One of the Dayton heaters I am looking at is 240V, 16A. Fine. But it needs a 30A circuit. Why? Putting it on a 30A curcuit means that the #12 wire won't cut it. Why do that?

Call Dayton and ask?