Baseboard Energy Consumption Difference

[Jawgarage]

Quick question. Is there a difference in energy usage between running one 2000W 240v baseboard or two on the same circuit? Meaning will running one take twice as long to heat and maintain a space Vs running two? So in short the energy usage would be the s ame either way but the speed to beat and maintain should be shorter with running two.......

Jeff

 

[papp101]

Quick question. Is there a difference in energy usage between running one 2000W 240v baseboard or two on the same circuit? Meaning will running one take twice as long to heat and maintain a space Vs running two? So in short the energy usage would be the s ame either way but the speed to beat and maintain should be shorter with running two.......

Jeff

Hi Jeff, as long as your circuit can handle both heaters on one circuit, there would not be a difference if the heaters we're on the same or different circuits. If you don't hit your max and trip the breaker, then they will essentially operate at the same rate as if they were separated.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[yeldogt]

Running 2 will cost twice as much .. unless you have them wired in a way that each is using 1/2.

2x2000w = 4000 watts

 

[Bert_]

It takes a certain amount of BTU's (energy) to heat the space. Once it's warm the heaters shut off. You can achieve that with one heater or two, the single heater will run twice as long as two assuming one 2kw heater is enough for the space.

A properly sized heater will probably be more comfortable

 

[Radix2]

I think I get your question.

Electric heat is about 100% efficient. So, no matter the number of heaters, it should cost about the same to heat a space to the same temperature. With the obvious difference in the amount the units need to run.

Economically, a single unit is the cheapest..because a single unit costs less than multiples of the same thing.

Two small might be more or less than one big.

I think you get the idea.

I might have missed the point with the "one circuit" reference you made, dunno.

 

[Jawgarage]

Bert and Radix2 understood my poorly worded question. I have the heaters already and am simply trying to minimize the wiring cost and the breaker real estate in my panel. One heater on its own branch circuit can be run with 12/2 and a 20amp dp breaker where as two baseboards on a single circuit forces the use of much more expensive 10/2 wire and will require a 30amp breaker in use from my 100 amp subpanel.

I’m really leaning towards running each heater on its own circuit so I can choose when to have them eaxh run as well as savimg a bunch on wire