Thermostat for electric baseboard heaters?

[101mph]

Hi guys,

Can you recommend a good thermostat to use with electric baseboard heat?

I need a 4-wire 240v electric thermostat (double pole).

I recently had a thermostat fail in our cottage and all I could find at the local hardware store was this one:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Honeywell-Manual-Electric-Baseboard-Thermostat-CT410B/100574426

After reading the reviews I'm already starting to regret it. But I was in a pinch so I didn't have much choice at the time. I'm already experiencing the accuracy issues a lot of the reviewers described (about 10+ degrees off).

I don't need anything too fancy (a simple manual one like the above I just purchased or even a simple digital one BUT it must have an OFF switch), but I do want something reliable that will at least maintain temperature within a few degrees.

We are not at this place much during the winter so I need this thing to be RELIABLE and just WORK without any problems.

This past weekend I was greeted to a 97 degree cottage when I arrived. I'm lucky the place didn't burn to the ground as the thermostat stuck in the ON position and never turned off the heaters (it was like this for WEEKS!). I can't wait to see next months electric bill

Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

BUT it must have an OFF switch

Ayuh,.... Other than readin' bad reviews, how's the one ya bought workin',..??

The Off Switch, is the circuit breaker that feeds it,.....

 

[Rookie2]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thermostat-...284447?hash=item3aabe91d1f:g:W9oAAOSweW5VeeT9

 

[sld961]

I just put this one in my basement. Haven't used it long, but seems to work good. It has an off switch.

HONEYWELL TL8230A1003 Thermostat Electric Heat Digital 7 day programmable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016J2CYQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[dfiler2]

I really think I would return one that stuck on, I have several Honeywell line voltage thermostats that have been in place for several years with no trouble. None of them have an off switch, just curious why that is important, there are other ways to shut off the heater.

 

[101mph]

Ayuh,.... Other than readin' bad reviews, how's the one ya bought workin',..??

The Off Switch, is the circuit breaker that feeds it,.....

I just installed it and I've already seen that it can be up to 10 degrees or more off (I have to set it at 70 to get 60 degrees room temperature).

I just like the convenience of being able to shut the heaters off right at the thermostat.

 

[101mph]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thermostat-...284447?hash=item3aabe91d1f:g:W9oAAOSweW5VeeT9

I need double pole (4 wires).

 

[Rookie2]

I need double pole (4 wires).

Any electrical supplier will have them !

Ebay has them

Home depot/Lowes may have them.

Any one who sells basboard heaters will have them.

YES 2 Pole !

 

[101mph]

I just put this one in my basement. Haven't used it long, but seems to work good. It has an off switch.

HONEYWELL TL8230A1003 Thermostat Electric Heat Digital 7 day programmable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016J2CYQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

We are only at this place on the weekends so this may be more than I need.

But I did look at this one online and it seems like it could work. I did have a question about it though.

Does this thermostat make the heaters go on/off constantly to maintain room temperature? By constantly I mean would it turn off the heaters, then turn them back on withing a minute (or less)?

I would be worried that the constant on/off in a short period of time may not be good for the heaters.

I don't need super accurate temperature control, but something that would maintain in the neighborhood of a few degrees would be fine.

 

[sld961]

We are only at this place on the weekends so this may be more than I need.

But I did look at this one online and it seems like it could work. I did have a question about it though.

Does this thermostat make the heaters go on/off constantly to maintain room temperature? By constantly I mean would it turn off the heaters, then turn them back on withing a minute (or less)?

I would be worried that the constant on/off in a short period of time may not be good for the heaters.

I don't need super accurate temperature control, but something that would maintain in the neighborhood of a few degrees would be fine.

I haven't noticed. I'll try to take note today and let you know.

 

[101mph]

I haven't noticed. I'll try to take note today and let you know.

OK thank you.

 

[dreasoner]

The type of thermostat shown linked by Rookie 2 looks to be the same or very similar to the Cadet stat sold at Menards. If that is the case, it is a bi metal type of switch that has an off position withe approximately 3 degree dead band between make and break points. Do you need the accuracy or wall display for your heaters? If not, this type of stat is in inexspensive and very durable. It is available in 1 or 2 poles. Sledgehammer simple.

 

[sld961]

We are only at this place on the weekends so this may be more than I need.

But I did look at this one online and it seems like it could work. I did have a question about it though.

Does this thermostat make the heaters go on/off constantly to maintain room temperature? By constantly I mean would it turn off the heaters, then turn them back on withing a minute (or less)?

I would be worried that the constant on/off in a short period of time may not be good for the heaters.

I don't need super accurate temperature control, but something that would maintain in the neighborhood of a few degrees would be fine.

I haven't noticed excessive cycling for this thermostat. The spec sheet says 15 min cycle time.

Cycle time would also depend on the size of room and the size of heater and the efficiency of insulation.

 

[101mph]

The type of thermostat shown linked by Rookie 2 looks to be the same or very similar to the Cadet stat sold at Menards. If that is the case, it is a bi metal type of switch that has an off position withe approximately 3 degree dead band between make and break points. Do you need the accuracy or wall display for your heaters? If not, this type of stat is in inexspensive and very durable. It is available in 1 or 2 poles. Sledgehammer simple.

The one I have is a Cadet. It's exactly like the one I linked to in my first post. Only difference is that it does not have the "Honeywell" label on the front (mine is blank).

Yes it's supposedly has the 3 degree dead band for temperature. But so far I am seeing like 10 degrees difference. I need better accuracy more than anything (3 degrees would be fine).

My concern is that if I set it too low during the winter, and the temp drops too much inside because of the excessive dead band in the thermostat, I could end up with frozen pipes. Currently I have it set to 50 degrees, but I would like to set it lower to save on energy costs.

 

[101mph]

I haven't noticed excessive cycling for this thermostat. The spec sheet says 15 min cycle time.

Cycle time would also depend on the size of room and the size of heater and the efficiency of insulation.

OK thanks.

Room size this thermostat is in is around 25'X20'. There are 2 heaters in the room and the insulation is decent, but not great.

 

[Radix2]

The one I have is a Cadet. It's exactly like the one I linked to in my first post. Only difference is that it does not have the "Honeywell" label on the front (mine is blank).

Yes it's supposedly has the 3 degree dead band for temperature. But so far I am seeing like 10 degrees difference. I need better accuracy more than anything (3 degrees would be fine).

My concern is that if I set it too low during the winter, and the temp drops too much inside because of the excessive dead band in the thermostat, I could end up with frozen pipes. Currently I have it set to 50 degrees, but I would like to set it lower to save on energy costs.

Do you have a freeze alarm ( or phone service there to use one? ). I use one at my cottage when away, it is a great way for peace of mind. It call you when the temps are too low or power is out, you Dan call it and it will tell you the temp. Some also have high alarms which would have saved you the big bill heading your way.

And thanks fir the post, I have an old electric wall heater that could use a new thermostat and I too would like to use for freeze protection.

 

[101mph]

Do you have a freeze alarm ( or phone service there to use one? ). I use one at my cottage when away, it is a great way for peace of mind. It call you when the temps are too low or power is out, you Dan call it and it will tell you the temp. Some also have high alarms which would have saved you the big bill heading your way.

And thanks fir the post, I have an old electric wall heater that could use a new thermostat and I too would like to use for freeze protection.

Unfortunately I do not have a phone in the place. I've heard of those devices but never put the phone in.

I wish I had one now

 

[Radix2]

Unfortunately I do not have a phone in the place. I've heard of those devices but never put the phone in.

I wish I had one now

Any Internet - like a neighbor that you could connect to ?

My father in law has a place up north where a tree broke a window in january...went through a full years worth of propane in 4 weeks...

if you tell us your electric bill we will all be sympathetic

 

[gregtwojeeps]

What length are the two baseboard heaters ? A room your size takes a minimum of 5ooo watts of heat considering good insulation and standard ceiling height, with not many doors or windows. If the room does have 5K or more watts of baseboard heat, you may have too much load on just one t-stat of which if I recall correctly.... is a max of 22 amps ? High amperage loads will cause excessive arching and prematurely break down the t-stat contacts and cause them to stick. A 5K watt load is around 22 amps. JMO