Help my 240 stelpro unit stopped working

[ZekeTheSneak]

I installed a stelpro ruh5000 watt unit in my garage. The unit does not have a internal thermostat so I was using an inline honeywell cheapy. It's hardwired with 10/2 romax and its using a 40 amp breaker which I was going to change to the recommended 20 amp. It worked all yesterday but today I went to turn it on and no bueno.

Is it possible the incorrect breaker could have killed the unit? I don't see any reason for it to trip, the wire is more than rated for the unit. It's left off via the thermostat until I use it in the shop.

I will be checking tomorrow if power is getting to the unit. I bypassed the thermostat and still nothing. I also checked the 3 connections. Ran great for 3 weeks so far.

Thanks

 

[LS6 Tommy]

If the breaker is too big you could have very well fried something in the unit, but check the basics first...

Tommy

 

[ZekeTheSneak]

Well i tested the voltage it has power to the unit. I swapped the breaker out for a 20 amp. Still nothing. This unit should work even with the thermostat missing and have it hardwired?

 

[IlliniJeeper]

If the breaker is too big you could have very well fried something in the unit, but check the basics first...

Tommy

Is it common for these things to actually trip breakers? Having too big of a breaker shouldn't be an issue unless you have a short of some kind causing excess power draw and even then, having a smaller breaker isn't going to save the unit.

 

[nadogail]

Does the thermostat interrupt the lone current to the heater, or does it trigger a relay?

Could the thermostat be burnt out from excessive current passing through the contacts?